Christophe Lemaire chooses Behkabad as Arc ride
While the rest of the world attempts to whittle their way through the 26 runners that have been left in the field for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Christophe Lemaire has come to his decision.
As the retained rider for the Aga Khan, Lemaire had to make a decision over which of his owner’s two runners he would ride in Sunday’s big race, both of whom have strong chances. Behkabad, the market leader, has taken the classic Arc route, having won both the Group One Grand Prix de Paris and the Group Two Prix Niel on Arc trials days last month. Both a run over the Arc’s course and distance and the Niel has signposted the Arc wins of Rail Link (2006), Hurricane Run (2005), Dalakhani (2003) and Sinndar (2000) in recent years.
By comparison, Sarafina was less impressive in her trial when she finished one-and-a-quarter lengths third to Midday in the Group One Prix Vermeille on the same day as the Niel. Her trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre, had spoken in glowing terms about the filly even before she made her racecourse debut in May and two Group One victories – the Prix Saint-Alary and Prix de Diane – have given solid evidence to that view.
But that was not enough to sway the jockey, who will ride Behkabad, with Gerald Mosse taking the ride on Sarafina. One man who is not surprised by the decision is the Aga Khan’s racing manger, Georges Rimaud, who said: “He’s made up his mind now. He will be riding Behkabad and Gerald Mosse will be riding Sarafina.
“For obvious reasons I suppose he feels he has a better chance. I haven’t spoken with him on that specific line. He made his choice – I think he’s made it for a while – after the Niel he felt the horse was right and is going to progress from that race.”
However, while Lemaire has chosen Behkabad, who is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, there is still confidence behind Sarafina as her owner seeks a fourth win in the Arc. “She has come on [from the Vermeille], she worked well this morning – without any sparkle which she normally does – but the trainer was apparently very pleased with her work and everything is on course,” Rimaud said.
Workforce, the record-breaking Derby winner from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, has not been seen out since running 17 lengths fifth to stable companion Harbinger in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July but could still be on course for the Arc as Stoute tries to win one of the few glittering prizes that has eluded him.
Connections will not make a definite decision until Thursday at the earliest but it would seem likely that a maximum field of 20 will be loaded into the stalls, which brings its own hazards. “Let’s hope that it doesn’t create any traffic issues,” Rimaud said. “I’d say that most of the horses are legitimate runners and hopefully the race will be fairly clear.
”We need a clear race with Behkabad. Sarafina’s got more of a sudden acceleration and could probably get out of trouble. But that’s racing and that’s the Arc – it’s always a tough race.”
Aidan O’Brien has found the Arc a tough nut to crack thus far and has seven left in the race with Fame And Glory, the mount of Johnny Murtagh, and Cape Blanco, who will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, heading a septet completed by Joshua Tree, Bright Horizon, Dixie Music, Midas Touch and Flying Cross.
Youmzain, runner-up for the last three years, is back again and John Gosden will send Duncan, the winner of the Group Two Prix Foy at Longchamp last month, where he will renew rivalry with Japanese challenger Nakayama Festa, whom he beat by three-quarters of a length in the Foy.
Japan has not won the Arc - El Condor Pasa was second to Montjeu in 1999 – but Godolphin has flown the flag proudly for Dubai, with two wins in their colours, and will rely on Cavalryman, while André Fabre will attempt an eight win in the race with Lope de Vega, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club, is likely to be added to the field at the supplementary stage on Thursday.
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