Sarafina chasing the dreams of Christophe and Royer at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Sir Michael Stoute’s Workforce was the winner last time of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but this time trainer A De Royer-Dupre is all determined to win this title with his four-year-old filly, Sarafina.
According to her jockey, Christophe Lemaire, Sarafina is one of the classiest fillies in Europe.
Sarafina has an unusual turn of foot as she is capable of overriding horses on the track in minimal time. She is simple to train and does not need a lot of work.
Her jockey said, "She is like a warrior, she loves to race. But she doesn't give you time to blow - you have to concentrate every moment of the race because she wants to go on”.
This season she has raced four times and managed a hat-trick by winning the last three in a row, all with Christophe-Patrice Lemaire holding her reigns.
At the beginning of the season, she was a runner-up at Longchamp with E Lellouche’s Planteur being the winner.
There was an A P O’Brien entry, Cape Blanco with Jamie Spencer onboard, who came fourth in the race in a field of seven horses.
On the 23rd of May, Sarafina won the Group 2 Prix Corrida for fillies and mares, aged four-year or above.
Sarafina settled in fifth towards the rear but made smooth progress outside 2 ½ furlong and then geared up well 1 ½ furlong out. When she was in the final furlong, she led 150 yards out and finished the race easily to win it.
The next victory surfaced on 26th June in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for thoroughbreds, aged four-year and above.
Sarafina displayed an impressive performance by staying consistent throughout the race and quickened only 1 ½ furlong out, rushing speedily in the final furlong to run down the leader and crossing the wire just in time.
The most recent was the Group 2 Qatar Prix Foy on 11th September where she defeated Mitsugu Kon’s Hiruno D’Amour.
Once again she remained calm when the race began, being in the rear, but then pushed and rode harder over 1 ½ furlong out. The final furlong was a challenge which she countered well and finally led the last 50 yards to win the race.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will not be an easy race, testing the ability and potential of all those on the field, so Sarafina will need to give in her best that day.
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