The 1975 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was a

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

held at Longchamp on Sunday 5 October 1975. It was the 54th running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The winner was Waldemar Zeitelhack's

Star Appeal Star Appeal (1970-1987) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred and sire who won top-class races in four countries. In 1975, he became the first German-trained racehorse to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Racing career Star Appeal was initially rac ...

, a five-year-old horse trained in West Germany by Theo Grieper and ridden by Greville Starkey. The owner, trainer and jockey were all recording their first success in the race. Star Appeal was the first German-trained horse to win the Arc. Star Appeal started at odds of 119/1, the longest ever recorded for a winner of the race.

The contenders

In French racing, horses in the same ownership are usually "coupled" and treated as a single entry for betting purposes. The favourite for the race was the five-year-old mare

Allez France Allez France (24 May 1970 – 11 December 1989) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Winner of the French 1000 Guineas, the French Oaks and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she was one of the greatest-ever ...

, winner of the race in 1974. The other leading French contenders included the three-year-olds Ivanjica, (winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix Vermeille) and Green Dancer (

Observer Gold Cup The Vertem Futurity Trophy is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), ...

, Poule d'Essai des Poulains), who were coupled in the betting as both were owned by Jacques Wertheimer and trained by

Alec Head Alec Head (31 July 1924 – 22 June 2022) was a French horse trainer and breeder. Biography Head was the owner of Haras du Quesnay, located near Deauville. A descendant of the trainers who founded the English Racing Colony in Chantilly, Oise, He ...

. Nelson Bunker Hunt was represented by the multiple Group One winner Dahlia and the three-year-old filly Nobiliary, the winner of the Prix Saint Alary and runner-up in the Epsom Derby. The most fancied of the international challengers were the British colt Bruni, winner of the St Leger Stakes, and the Italian-trained four-year-old Duke of Marmalade. The United States was represented by the Hollywood Derby winner Intrepid Hero, and West Germany sent Star Appeal, an Irish-bred five-year-old who had won the

Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown P ...

in July. Allez France headed the betting at odds of 1.75/1, with Green Dancer/Ivanjica on 3.25/1, Bruni on 4.5/1, Nobiliary/Dahlia on 8.75/1 and Duke of Marmalade on 9.5/1. Star Appeal started the complete outsider of the twenty-four runners at odds of 119/1.

The race

Citoyen went to the front soon after the start with Olmeto in second. Nobilary, Dahlia, Carolus, Un Kopeck and Allez France were also in contention in the early stages. At half distance the field bunched and there was a good deal of bumping and interference. Dahlia stumbled and lost any chance, whilst Allez France also lost ground. Nobiliary led the field into the straight ahthe ead of Un Kopeck, Kasteel, Bruni and Duke of Marmalade. Comtesse de Loir produced a strong run along the rail to head Nobiliary but was immediately overtaken by Star Appeal who burst through "like greased lightning" having been among the back markers for most of the way. In the final 100 metres, Star Appeal drew away to win by three lengths from another fast-finishing outsider On My Way. Comtesse de Loir was another two and a half lengths back in third, followed by Un Kopeck, Allez France, Nobiliary, Bruni and Green Dancer.

Race details

* Sponsor: none * Purse: * Going: Soft * Distance: 2,400 metres * Number of runners: 24 * Winner's time: 2:33.6

Full result

* Abbreviations: ns = nose; shd = short-head; hd = head; snk = short neck; nk = neck

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Star Appeal. * Sex: Stallion * Foaled: 12 May 1970 * Country: Ireland * Sire: Appiani; Dam: Sterna (Neckar) * Owner: Waldemar Zeitelhack * Breeder: Gestut Röttgen

References

{{Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 1975 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe