Paris, France (AFP) — English trainer George Scott took the honours on Saturday at Longchamp with a double, the perfect moralebooster on the eve of Bay City Roller running in Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Scott’s brace included a nervous wait, because of a steward’s enquiry before Caballo de Mar was confirmed as the winner of the Group One Prix du Cadran for the second successive year.

Scott is rather fond of France — this took his tally to five wins in six visits this year.

Caballo de Mar loves the French air just as much as his trainer as he has won all three of his races at Longchamp.

His win in the Cadran last year was Scott’s first-ever Group One victory.

“It was a great training performance,” said winning jockey Oisin Murphy, who will also ride Bay City Roller.

“He was a bit lost in midseason, but George got him going again, and this is the result today.”

For Scott it was pinch me and tell me I am not dreaming territory.

“It’s been an amazing day,” he said. “France has been very good for me and the team.”

Caballo de Mar’s achievement was all the greater in that he beat the champion stayer this season, Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia.

“I thought if there was an opportunity to beat him it would be today,” said Scott.

Scott had earlier taken the Group Two Prix Dollar as Wimbledon Hawkeye collected the honours under superstar Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon.

Scott eulogised about Soumillon’s affinity with the horse.

“I have always had a bit of a man crush on Christophe,” said Scott with a smile.

“He is so charismatic, just like Frankie Dettori and Oisin Murphy.

“Like them, too, the only time he looks less than pleased is when you try to tell him how to ride.”

‘The pinnacle’

France’s search for a first win in the Prix de Royallieu, since it

became a Group One in 2019, goes on as English runner Fairy Glen took the honours, pipping French race favourite, Sunly.

For jockey Mickael Barzalona it was the perfect warm-up act ahead of riding defending Arc champion and favourite, Daryz.

There was a twist — by beating Sunly he denied Daryz’s trainer Francis Graffard the big prize.

Fairy Glen has more than earned her retirement at the end of the season.

Her co-trainer Ed Crisford, who shares the licence with his father, Simon, will also head off to pastures new to train in Dubai.

“She is a game filly,” said Ed. “She will never win in flashy style, but she gets the job done.”

The Prix Chaudenay kicked off the programme of French racing’s showpiece weekend and delivered a fairytale first Group Two victory for trainer Amy Murphy.

It was a first win at this level for Jabracadabra’s Belgian jockey, Ebbe Verhestraeten, who only turned professional last week, and for former NBA superstar Tony Parker’s breeding operation.

France-based Murphy grabbed her parents, who were over from England, to join her in the winners’ enclosure and then gave Verhestraeten a huge hug.

Murphy took a bold gamble to move to France from England, lured by the prize money.

“To win the opening race on Arc weekend is the pinnacle,” said Murphy, who has 60 horses.

“It is where we all want to be. To have mum and dad here is beyond one’s wildest dreams.

“The Champagne is firmly open from about 10 minutes from now!”

Verhestraeten is starting out in his career and he will be more than happy if he achieves anything like the success of his compatriot, Soumillon.

A red-letter day for English trainers was rounded off when Ralph Beckett won the Group Two Prix Daniel Wildenstein with Qirat.

However, for his compatriot Karl Burke there was a devastating postscript to the race as his star, Fallen Angel, suffered a fatal injury.