Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia retired

Solemia, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris in an upset last month, has been retired following her 13th place finish in Sunday’s Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse.

Owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, Solemia won 5 of 14 starts and four stakes. She won the minor Prix Joubert in 2011 and two stakes earlier this year prior to the Arc – the minor Prix Lord Seymour and the Group2 Prix Corrida.

In the Arc against 17 rivals on heavy turf, Solemia beat Orfevre, the Japanese 2011 Triple Crown winner, by a neck in a 33-1 upset.

A 4-year-old Irish-bred filly by Poliglote, Solemia was trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias. After the Arc, the trainer stated that Solemia would have one more start in 2012 before being retired. In the Japan Cup, Solemia was just behind the leaders for the first mile of the race over 1 1/2 miles on turf, but faded through the stretch and was beaten 10 1/4 lengths by the 3-year-old filly Gentildonna.

In 2013, Solemia will be bred to Dubawi, who stands at stud in England.