by Mike Curry

Marchand d’Or lived up to his billing as the 2-to-1 favorite and reeled off his third straight Group 1 win with a dominant 1 1/2-length victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Fr-G1) on Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) undercard at Longchamp.

The five-year-old Marchand de Sable gelding gave trainer Freddie Head his eighth Group 1 win of the season and second on the card as Naaqoos won Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (Fr-G1).

Marchand d’Or was reserved in midpack on the outside in the 17-horse field. When given his cue by Davy Bonilla with about 500 meters remaining, Marchand d’Or uncoiled an electric burst of speed, swept to the lead with a powerful rush, and powered clear.

He completed 1,000 meters (4.97 furlongs) in :54.40 on good to soft turf while being eased up by Bonilla.

Marchand d’Or won the Darley July Cup (Eng-G1) on July 11 and the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-G1) on August 10 in his two previous starts. Head was effusive in his praise of the star sprinter, who improved to ten wins in 21 starts.

"I have never ridden a horse as fast—he is quite exceptional. You can compare him to the really great British sprinters of the past like Dayjur and he has been able to prove himself from between five and seven furlongs," Head, a former jockey, told England’s Press Association. "We will look at running in Hong Kong now, as long as he is OK."

Runner-up Moorhouse Lad was one length clear of third-place finisher Borderlescott, who entered off a win in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Eng-G1) on August 22.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor