Verdict of the numbers: "So is Zarkava the greatest filly to put hoof to turf? The ultimate racehorse? No. In truth she's simply the best three-year-old filly since Bosra Sham." According to one figure maker, Zarkava's rating post-Arc is 127, which puts her ahead of Big Brown, behind Curlin.

"The triumph of Zarkava and Christophe Soumillon in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe yesterday was instead a crescendo of reckless joy, un grand amour between two of the most bewitching talents in French Turf history." Independent turf writer Chris McGrath crushes out on the undefeated filly and her tousled jockey.