Rail Link was trained by André Fabre,[2] and was ridden by jockey Christophe Soumillon[3] or Stéphane Pasquier[4] for owner Khalid Abdullah.

[5] Unraced at two,[2] he made an inauspicious start to his three-year-old career, unseating his rider on his debut at Saint-Cloud,[5] and then finishing second in its next race at Chantilly Racecourse.

[5] On 1 October 2006 he won the 85th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, defeating Pride, Deep Impact, Shirocco, and Hurricane Run.

[4] During the Winter of 2006–7, he suffered a tendon problem and was taken out of training.

He was expected to return in the Summer of 2007, but the injury was too serious and he was retired from racing.