Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe preview
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, held on the first weekend in October, is among the most important flat racing events of the season. The best UK horses face off against their European counterparts in one of the only continent-wide, inter-generational races,
the centrepiece of two days of phenomenal competition at Longchamp, a picturesque riverside track just a stone’s throw from the Champs-Élysées.
The Arc is a clash of the champions of the sport, bringing together nearly every top-class middle-distance racing horse in Europe, with all Group 1 winners obliged to race. The prestigious event, which has been won by such famous horses as Sea-Bird, Peintre
Celebre and Dancing Brave, showers the winners in an excess of glory. Last year, Sea The Stars was the champion at the 1m4f race for the top win of his career. This year, the race will favour horses who are sure-footed in wet conditions.
"We have had 30mm [of rain] during the past four days,” said Longchamp clerk Christian Delporte. “The going is currently soft and nearly very soft. There is the risk of more rain on Thursday and Friday - it just depends whether it is 2mm or 20mm. For the
moment, I feel the going will be soft for the Arc meeting."
The first Sunday of October, Arc day, makes day two of the Breeder’s Cup seem like its lacking in quality races. The six Group 1 races of the day are set into motion by the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, the sprint equivalent of the Arc, the penultimate
race of the day. Behkabad is a definite favourite for the 26-horse race. Christophe Lemaire will ride the horse.
"He has made up his mind now, he will be riding Behkabad; Gerald [Mosse] will ride Sarafina,” said Aga Khan’s racing manager Georges Rimaud. “For the obvious reasons he feels he has a better chance on the horse."
Behkabad stole the Prix Niel victory from Planteur last year at Longchamp, and the Elie Lellouche-trained horse will be targeting revenge in the Arc, racing at 7-1 odds.
"I worked him with two lead horses over nine furlongs and was pleased by the way he went,” said Lellouche. “I feel the colt is at the top of his game and couldn't be better pleased with his preparation. If there is cut on Arc day it certainly won't be against
his chance."
Two-time Arc winner Christophe Soumillon will ride Cape Blanco in this year’s race, while Youmzain will be trying to beat his three consecutive second-place finishes in the last three editions of the race. The Mick Channon-trained horse will be retiring
at the end of the season, at seven years old.
"I'm just relieved to be honest - he's done plenty of work already and if he's not fit now he never will be. It was just about getting him across the village to the Summer Ground for a change of scenery and coming home safe,” said Channon. “So much can go
wrong at any time but in the build up to big races all sorts of factors play on your mind. He's back in his box, safe and sound now and he'll just canter away until Friday when he leaves for Paris.”
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