Ground concerns wither off for Workforce to win the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday
It was almost a dilemma for the connections of last year’s Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce when the ground conditions turned out to be troublesome and not at par with what exactly were the norms to which Workforce was accustomed.
The disappointment has worn away just today as the connections got a chance to walk through the ground and analyse it critically which concluded to be in their own interest.
Grimthorpe said: "I hope it's as lucky as last year - he's fared better (in the draw) than some of the other fancied runners. We walked the track on Friday morning and it is on the easy side of good. They put 10 millimetres on, so from that point of view
we are fairly happy”.
The nightmare was put to an end and the connections started mind boggling on all the positives that will surface if Workforce gets to become a part of the race now and eventually ends up winning it.
The fact that Workforce will be breaking from the same stall as last year is being seen as a lucky sign already. It would be from stall eight that Workforce will race out from with Ryan Moore onboard.
Not only is the stall for this year’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp the same rather even the jockey after a year turns out to be the same one.
Even though Workforce has always been ridden by Ryan Moore, the reason to bring up this point here was that he had sustained a serious injury after which his recovery and return was not certain for the Arc.
The champion, Ryan Moore, himself, who has raced many all time greats to victory and has even made many all time greats by getting them to victory after victory at his own expense.
"It's great to have Ryan back, for all the best reasons. He knows him, he's the only one to have ridden him, he knows what to expect”.
Another magnificent outcome from winning this race is setting the record of winning the Arc twice in a row which is extremely rare and was only accomplished back in 1977 by Alleged.
“There have not been many dual Arc winners and we've got a bit of work to do to join them”, said Grimthorpe.
All the factors associated with Workforce this year seem to be so very favourable that it would be hardly anything that will keep him away from winning the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. Sir Michael Stoute could not have been happier.
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