Andre Fabre is the most successful trainer in the history of the Arc with seven victories and the fourth of those came in 1997 courtesy of Peintre Celebre. His other triumphs have been secured with Trempolino (1987), Subotica (1992), Carnegie (1994), Sagamix (1998), Hurricane Run (2005) and Rail Link (2006).

In winning the French Derby, Peintre Celebre achieved a lifetime ambition for owner Daniel Wildenstein. If this was not enough, the three-year-old Nureyev colt went on to take the Arc later that term by five lengths from Pilsudski and a top-class field featuring 11 Group One scorers, including the previous season’s five-length Arc winner Helissio, in a new record time of 2m 24.60s.

Peintre Celebre gave Daniel Wildenstein his fourth Arc success, following on from Allez France (1974), All Along (1983) and Sagace (1984). It would have been five but Sagace was disqualified after passing the post first in 1985 for twice bumping the neck runner-up Rainbow Quest who was awarded the race.