Alpinista bids to continue Group One streak in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Mark Prescott's five-year-old mare Alpinista will attempt to land a sixth straight Group One in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

It was in one of those in Germany last year that she beat Torquator Tasso, who subsequently won the Arc 12 months ago. It was at that point many began to sit up and take notice of Prescott’s mare.

While it is unusual for a multiple Group One winner to still be in training at the age of five, her owner Kirsten Rausing felt she would have to win elsewhere to get the recognition she deserved.

Her season did not get under way until the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July, but she won that easy enough and then disposed of this year’s Oaks winner, Tuesday, at York.

Now it is the big one. A race both Rausing and Prescott would love to win and while it may have been some time since the last five-year-old mare took the laurels, Arc winners Enable (2018), Solemia (2012) and Sea The Stars (2009) all broke from her same berth in stall six.

"She’s drawn in six and the experts say that’s not too bad. I’ll have to hope they are right," said Prescott.

"I haven’t looked into winning stalls yet, I’m still a bit put off from doing my own research as the last thing I looked for was the last five-year-old mare that won – and it was 1937!

"I don’t suppose many have tried having won five Group Ones, but on the other hand, those that had would normally be retired by now."

While Prescott admits her two wins this season have brought her more recognition, he wonders how much more is left in the locker.

"So far she has got better and better with age, but can you do it again? That’s the question. They all reach a ceiling and it’s a case of have we got there yet?," he said.

"Her two wins this year have been her two most