Tag Archive for: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Ascot possibility for Los Angeles after gallant Arc effort

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Los Angeles could drop back in distance for the Qipco Champion Stakes following his third place in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt set out to make all in the hands of Ryan Moore and was only collared by eventual first and second, Bluestocking and Aventure, just over a furlong from the line.

Beaten a total of two and three-quarter lengths, Los Angeles could now drop back to 10 furlongs – the distance over which he finished a close-up fourth behind Economics in the Irish Champion Stakes – should the Coolmore team opt to roll the dice again this term.

Los Angeles and his team following his Irish Derby win
Los Angeles and his team following his Irish Derby win (Damien Eagers/PA)

O’Brien said: “It’s hard to do it in front, he ran a good race, he was a bit babyish out there, a bit green. With an ideal run we might have preferred a lead, but we didn’t have one. He ran a great race.

“He’s not blowing much, we will see how he is. If he was to go again, he could go back for the Champion Stakes or something, we will see how he is.”

The Ballydoyle handler also fielded Continuous, who came home last of the 15 finishers after meeting trouble in running when Haya Zark suffered an injury some way from home.

O’Brien added: “He got taken out by the injured horse, he just got caught by that so that took him out of it.”

Aventure finished a length and a half in front of Los Angeles for trainer Christophe Ferland.

The Sea The Stars filly had previously been beaten three-quarters of a length by Bluestocking in the Prix Vermeille and despite the slight increase in the margin of defeat this time, Ferland felt vindicated in opting to tackle the Arc rather than the fillies-only Prix de l’Opera.

He said: “There are no words to say how proud of her I am.

“That was the same (result) as the Vermeille. We know she (Bluestocking) is a fantastic filly – she beat us, she’s won three Group Ones, second in the King George and Aventure is only three years old, so she has a year to go if everything is fine.

“I’m very proud. I decided to run in the race and the boss (the Wertheimer brothers) said ‘OK let’s go’. There had been a lot of discussion between the Opera and the Arc. It’s fantastic, second place.”

Ralph Beckett trains Bluestocking
Ralph Beckett trains Bluestocking (John Walton/PA)

Ferland is now looking forward to a 2025 campaign with his charge, adding: “(She) definitely stays in training , we don’t know where she will start next year but she will stay in training.”

He also praised Beckett’s achievement in securing victory, with the pair having worked together in their younger days.

Ferland said: “A long time ago he was assistant at Peter Walwyn’s and we spent six months together over there, we know each other well. He’s a great guy, a top trainer and he has a top filly. Well done to him – a first Arc.”

The Wertheimers also took fourth place with the Andre Fabre-trained Sosie, winner of the Prix Niel but beaten just over four lengths on this occasion.

The owners’ racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau said: “Sosie was less at home on this ground, as was clear for all to see in the straight. Despite the very good level of the horses in the race, the ground was a great leveller.

“Sosie acts well at Longchamp but Aventure had run very well in the Vermeille. We knew that both would run well, but we were sure of one thing regarding Aventure, that this morning’s rain would be to her advantage.

“Both will remain in training. As things stand, they won’t race again this season because it’s been a long season for both horses.”



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Bluestocking is Arc angel for Beckett in Paris

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Bluestocking repaid the faith shown in her by connections as she soared to victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Trained by Ralph Beckett for owner-breeders Juddmonte, the filly was supplemented for the Paris spectacular in the wake of her triumph over course and distance in the Prix Vermeille.

A 5-1 chance under Rossa Ryan, she enjoyed a trouble-free passage in the slipstream of Los Angeles before holding off the advancing Aventure to land a record seventh Arc for the late Khalid Abdullah’s decorated racing operation.

Los Angeles was third for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, with favourite Sosie fourth for Andre Fabre.

“It’s a tribute to her constitution as much as anything,” said Beckett. “It’s extraordinary to have a horse to start in May and dance all those dances, the King George, the Juddmonte (International), and get beaten and come back and do that.

“After only three weeks and what looked like a tough race in the Vermeille, it’s extraordinary. She is an extraordinary beast.

“I think the draw helped, it was terrific. He got her into the right place and everything went to plan, he was able to pull it off.

“Westover hit the front with a furlong left last year and I was kind of waiting for something else to come and get her, what a day.

“This is our best ever day, it has to be. I’ve been lucky enough to win a couple of Oaks but this is our best day, for sure.

“Barry Mahon and the Juddmonte team are an extraordinary outfit to work for in that there is no pressure, ever.

“Good horses train themselves. Amazing, really. I never thought she’d win.”

Rossa Ryan returns with Bluestocking
Rossa Ryan returns with Bluestocking (PA)

A jubilant Ryan told Equidia soon after passing the line: “I know everyone overlooked her, but on form she had been at the top table and done it all. She just proved she’s something else.

“I can’t really believe it, this filly has been something else to my career.

“My family are here, they all came over and it’s very surreal.”

Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte, said: “It’s absolutely amazing, the job Ralph has done with this filly all year has been unreal. It’s unbelievable, what a filly.

“That’s Juddmonte’s seventh winner in the race, I think that makes them the winning-most owner of all time so that’s a special record.

“It’s a brilliant day. She had a perfect trip the whole way round, Rossa had it all planned in his head. He was going to be handy, he had a lovely trip the whole way and at the top of the straight I thought it was going to take a good one to beat her.”



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Vega team on the lookout for Arc success

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Look De Vega is out to reverse his fortunes when he encounters Sosie once again in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

The colt raced only once at two when taking his maiden by an easy seven lengths, after which he returned this year to move onto bigger things when starting out with a comfortable victory.

Stepped up in class for the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, his flawless record was maintained at the highest level as he prevailed by two lengths with Andre Fabre’s Sosie in third behind him.

The two horses met again in the Prix Niel recently over the Arc course and distance and Sosie was able to turn the tables on his rival, crossing the line first with Jean-Claude Rouget’s Delius behind him and Look De Vega further back in third.

The father and son team of Carlos and Yann Lerner were naturally hoping their three-year-old would land the Arc trial, but have lost no faith in his ability to stay the distance as they feel he was short of peak condition last time out.

Yann Lerner said: “The distance holds no worries for me. We shouldn’t judge his ability to stay the trip based on his effort in the Prix Niel, given that he wasn’t in peak condition when attempting the trip for the first time.

“He found himself making the running for the first time in his career, and Ronan Thomas (jockey) can confirm that colt’s breathing patterns weren’t as they usually are, having been denied the chance of a breather at the critical part of the race.

“The pace in the Arc will be far more searching, and he has the tactical speed which enables him to adjust to whatever scenario unfolds in terms of the pace.

“He should find himself in a far better place in terms of how the race unfolds. Furthermore, I think he’ll quicken in the same way over 2400 metres as he does over 2100 metres.”

Fabre’s Sosie is now proven twice over the Arc course and distance having won the Grand Prix de Paris prior to his Prix Niel victory.

The colt was bred by the Wertheimer brothers, Alain and Gerard, whose racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau said: “He loves the track and has won there three times, while the distance is no problem either as he won the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel over the same course and distance.

“He will have no problem with both distance and track and that is important.

“Andre knows how to get a horse prepped for the big day and that will be important. After the Grand Prix de Paris the aim has always been the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The other day he had a good race and didn’t have to fight too much so hopefully there is some more to come.”

Sosie is one of three Fabre-trained runners in the race, with Mqse De Sevigne also entered for the master trainer alongside Sevenna’s Knight.

Sevenna’s Knight is expected to be the outsider of the Fabre trio, while multiple Group One winner Mqse De Sevigne is one of four fillies in the race and arrives in Paris is outstanding form having won her last four races.

Delius, who split Sosie and Look De Vega in the Niel, will take them both on again, with the Wertheimers having a second chance through the Christophe Ferland-trained Aventure after her second-placed run behind Bluestocking in the Prix Vermeille.



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From Los Angeles to Paris – O’Brien has designs on another Arc

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Los Angeles leads Aidan O’Brien’s bid for a third victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Third in the Derby to illustrious stablemate City Of Troy and winner of the Irish version at the Curragh later the same month, he then won the Great Voltigeur with a penalty.

Los Angeles was dropped back in trip for the Irish Champion Stakes next and finished well for fourth when a length and a quarter behind William Haggas’ Economics.

That run sealed O’Brien’s decision to send him to Paris, with the St Leger at Doncaster left for his stablemates to contest in his absence, although the prospect of soft ground meant stablemate Auguste Rodin stayed at home.

Speaking after watching Illinois win the first Group race of the weekend O’Brien – whose two Arcs have come with Dylan Thomas (2007) and Found (2016) said: “The ground is plenty soft – it’s plenty slow with a lot of moisture in it.

“When we landed I was kind of half-sorry for taking out Auguste Rodin, but when I walked out on the track I’d say it was yielding Irish ground/good to soft English ground. Ryan (Moore) says it’s plenty soft and he was very happy that it was the right thing.

“Los Angeles and Continuous shouldn’t mind it. Los Angeles is in good form and everything has gone well with him since last run.

“We’ve been very happy with Los Angeles since the Irish Champion Stakes. We were hoping if he finished in the first four that would be good enough to run in the Arc and that’s what he did.

Los Angeles (right) winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes
Los Angeles (right) winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

“After the Irish Derby we knew Los Angeles could be a Leger horse, but we had other horses for that as well so we started to think of the Arc then.

“We went to York to get a run into him when he won with a penalty over a mile and a half and we came back to a mile and a quarter after that. It’s been the plan for a long time with him.”

O’Brien also runs Continuous, who will be the mount of Christophe Soumillon after horse and jockey teamed up to finish third in the Prix Foy over course and distance last time out.

He added of his other runner, who was fifth in 2023: “Continuous is the same, the last day wasn’t ideal as he would have preferred not to make the running, but it was only a trial and he needed that race and he’ll be better taking his time.

“We’ve trained him with an autumn campaign in mind. Last year it was a slowly-run race but we were happy with his run, we always had it in mind that he would be better this year and hopefully prepare better for the race.”

Al Riffa at the Curragh
Al Riffa at the Curragh (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

O’Brien’s son Joseph will saddle Al Riffa, a son of Wootton Bassett who was runner-up behind City Of Troy in the Eclipse and then won the Group One Grosser Preis von Berlin by five lengths at Hoppegarten last time out when stepping up to the Arc trip.

“I was very proud of the performance in Germany and I have always thought, with the extra distance, he really did look like he was better for it,” said O’Brien, whose colt will be ridden by Japanese great Yutaka Take.

“This race has always been a good prep race for the Arc and we thought that it was good for him to go there as a fresh horse. He is versatile in terms of the going.

“He had a busy first half of the season and that is why we made the decision after Germany to keep him fresh. It is no bad thing to have had a run at Longchamp, but it will be a completely different experience in the Arc.

“The Arc is one of the biggest races in the world and it is special just to have a runner in it with a live chance.

“We are looking forward to it and we are going to enjoy the race and the whole experience. If we were lucky enough to win it, it would be right up there with anything I have done before.”

Bluestocking was supplemented by Juddmonte
Bluestocking was supplemented by Juddmonte (Mike Egerton/PA)

Bluestocking, trained by Ralph Beckett, was a supplementary entry after winning the Prix Vermeille last time out.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “She produced a career-best in the Vermeille and she was tough and gutsy and I think she likes a little bit of ease in the ground.

“She also likes to get into a battle and she had all of that the last day and it was a great performance.

“We’re hoping it will be third time lucky, it is the third year in a row ourselves and Ralph will have been to the Arc, twice with Westover and now with Bluestocking, so hopefully we get lucky.”

It is no secret the Arc is greatly revered by the Japanese and this year their hopes are pinned to Shin Emperor, who made his first start in Europe when a gallant third in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Shin Emperor (left) in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown
Shin Emperor (left) in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown (Healy Racing/PA)

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said: “He was not yet in his top form when he was in Ireland and I thought that race was going to be very hard, so when he finished third we were very encouraged by that run.

“Because the ground in Ireland was all right, the horse didn’t actually have a very tough race and was not too tired afterwards. Since then we haven’t been excessive in either way, he hasn’t had a lot of work and he hasn’t been completely off work.

“It looks very open, but there are many good horses in there. I can’t really pick out one horse who I fear as an opponent, they are all very good horses and you have to have some luck in running to win this race.”

French-born David Menuisier will be represented by Sunway, third in the St Leger and the runner-up of the Irish Derby in June.

“We’d been mulling over with (co-owner) Guy Pariente whether to go for the Arc, and it seems to be the case of now or never,” the Pulborough-based handler said. “Especially as the horse is flying at the moment having been in good form all year. There’s no reason not to go for the Arc.

“Sunway deserves to take his chance and he goes there with a fighting chance of being in the money, and the colt also has every right to win the race. He finished very close to a horse of the calibre of Los Angeles and he will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.

“He is one of the toughest horses I have ever trained, and he never stops giving his best.”



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Look De Vega aiming to strike Arc gold for Al Shaqab

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Look De Vega will fly the flag for Al Shaqab Racing, as the owners seek to end their 10-year wait to reclaim the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trophy.

It was back in 2014 that Treve landed France’s most prestigious race for a second time in the colours of Sheikh Joaan’s racing empire.

Since than many have tried and failed to replicate Criquette Head-Maarek’s exceptional mare for the owners, with Treve herself in her hat-trick bid and Jean-Claude Rouget’s Al Hakeem coming closest to adding to Al Shaqab’s Arc haul in the years since.

Treve won the Arc twice for the Al Shaqab team
Treve won the Arc twice for the Al Shaqab team (David Davies/PA)

Al Hakeem was on course for another crack at Europe’s richest middle-distance prize before injury prompted retirement earlier this autumn, leaving Carlos and Yann Lerner’s Prix du Jockey Club hero as the Qatar operation’s sole representative in the ParisLongchamp feature.

A leading fancy for the race after his French Derby triumph, Look De Vega surrendered favouritism to Sosie when only third to Andre Fabre’s Arc challenger in the Prix Niel last month.

However, connections are confident the son of Lope De Vega has improved for that tune-up run on the Bois du Boulogne and are ready to play their part in what is shaping up to be an ultra-competitive renewal.

“I think it’s a wide-open race and it is nice to see he has a nice draw in eight which means Ronan (Thomas, jockey) will have options and will be able to see where the pace is early,” said Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, Al Shaqab’s French racing consultant.

“The most important thing is Yann and Carlos are very pleased with him, I spoke to Yann a couple of days ago and he feels he has got the horse in a good place now and ready to do himself justice in the big one.

“He’s very aware that some of these older horses, as well as Sosie, they are going to be tough to beat though.”

Look De Vega is one of four horses to carry the Al Shaqab colours in Group One thoroughbred events on Sunday’s card, a day which is arguably the most important on the owners’ calendar.

Prix de Diane winner Sparkling Plenty and high-class youngsters Simmering and Houquetot will also be in action for the Qatar team, but it will be Arc glory provided by Look De Vega that is desired most.

“It’s obviously the race that Sheikh Joaan wants to win and for Carlos and Yann it is the same,” continued Pritchard-Gordon.

“The whole Al Shaqab team are going to be both nervous and excited about Sunday, but it is better to be in that position than not to have anything to look forward to at all.

“Hopefully everyone enjoys a great weekend and I think we’re set for some exciting racing.”



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Yahagi convinced he has the horse to fulfil Arc dreams for Japan

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Japanese challenger Shin Emperor will fulfil a long-term plan as he bids to emulate his brother Sottsass by winning Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

Sottsass was victorious for Jean-Claude Rouget in 2020, and the following August trainer Yoshito Yahagi convinced owner Susumu Fujita to part with €2.1million to recruit his full-brother at the Arqana Sales.

Shin Emperor headed to Japan where he was a Grade Three winner at two and finished third in the Japanese Derby in May before embarking on his European adventure, taking a narrow and highly-creditable third on his prep run in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Yahagi saddled Stay Foolish to finish 14th behind Alpinista in attritional conditions two years ago and with the going predicted to be soft again this weekend, the trainer is confident this year’s contender can handle the ground.

Shin Emperor (far side) in action at ParisLongchamp
Shin Emperor (far side) in action at ParisLongchamp (Scoopdyga/France Galop)

He said: “I knew about the (soft) ground and I brought this horse over to run in this race because his pedigree suggests, as well as how he runs, that he will handle the ground and I think he will run well.

“I came over with Stay Foolish but this time I have more of a chance because the horse is really able to handle the ground.

“I have won many races but I have never won in Europe. I’ve not won the Arc and it really is the summit of all races and so to win it is not easy.

“If you look it is a very European race, it’s run over a mile and a half and the winners are all European. Maybe the ground has been complicated for us, but that’s why I have brought over this horse.”

Sottsass (left in green) is a full-brother to Shin Emperor
Sottsass (left in green) is a full-brother to Shin Emperor (PA)

Shin Emperor is the latest in a string of Japanese challengers for the Arc, with Through Seven Seas coming home fourth for Tomohito Ozeki last year.

Speed Symboli was the first to try for Japan back in 1969 before the likes of El Condor Pasa, Nakayama Festa and Orfevre hit the bar in more recent years, firing Yahagi’s dream of winning Europe’s premier all-aged middle-distance prize.

Yahagi’s resume includes top-level success across the world with the likes of Panthalassa, winner of the Dubai Turf and the Saudi Cup, Cox Plate hero Lys Gracieux and Breeders’ Cup and Hong Kong heroine Loves Only You.

He underlined the reverence in which the Arc is held in Japan and feels Shin Emperor’s sizeable price tag will be justified if he can realise the aim set out from the moment he signed the sales ticket.

He said: “For the Japanese, this is a very important race, a more and more important race. For 50 years I have been dreaming about this race, it’s been my goal to come here and I’m very emotional that I am now in France and having a runner in this race.

“It was the top price at the sale and when I went there I looked at all the horses but he really stood out, he was just apart from all the other horses so I asked the owner to buy the horse and I’m very, very happy that we did.

“It’s a very difficult race to win but when I bought this horse, I dreamt about bringing him here to France for the Arc. The percentage of doing that and getting to the start is very slim and it’s a miracle that I have been able to bring him here.

“It’s really thanks to my efforts and the owners and jockey that we were able to bring him here, so I have already succeeded in that miracle of bringing him here to France.”

Asked how his life would be altered should he win the Arc, Yahagi added: “There shouldn’t be too much of a change, but maybe I wouldn’t be able to take my train unbothered!”

Yoshito Yahagi (right) surveys the scene at Leopardstown
Yoshito Yahagi (right) surveys the scene at Leopardstown (PA)

Yahagi and big-race rider Ryusei Sakai have already secured one important success this week, with Breeders’ Cup hopeful Forever Young winning the JBC Dirt Classic at Ohi racecourse on Wednesday.

The Kentucky Derby third is on course for a Classic showdown with City Of Troy at Del Mar next month, with Yahagi saying: “Thankfully I won so I could come to France with a light heart and I can now concentrate on the Arc.”

Sakai added: “I was very happy we won on Wednesday – if I had not won that race, I don’t think I would have wanted to get on the plane.”



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Sosie and Aventure bidding to emulate Arc angel Solemia

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To have a contender for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is every Frenchman’s wish – so to have two is a dream.

Now Sosie and Aventure are entrusted with fulfilling that ambition and adding the Wertheimer name to France’s most famous trophy once again.

The family’s blue and white silks are synonymous not only with French racing, but thanks to their legion of stars down the decades – see the great Goldikova – they have also been a familiar sight on a global stage.

The current custodians of the colours, brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, saw their Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained Solemia break Japanese hearts in 2012, and 12 years on have an outstanding chance of again adding their name to the record books with their two-pronged attack, led by Sosie.

Trained by the Arc’s master trainer Andre Fabre, the Prix du Jockey Club runner-up has excelled at ParisLongchamp when claiming the Grand Prix de Paris and then lowering the colours of French Derby conqueror Look De Vega in the Prix Niel.

https://twiter.com/AtTheRaces/status/1841768092264808686

That sent the son of Sea The Stars right to the top of the bookmakers’ lists for Europe’s richest middle-distance contest and connections hope his experience in the French capital can prove an unbeatable strength on Sunday afternoon.

“Not all horses are used to Longchamp, but he knows the track and it is definitely a plus for him,” said Wertheimer racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau.

“In my mind he is the best three-year-old French colt at this distance at the moment, so it will be very interesting to see if he can be competitive and be the best on Sunday.

“He’s being called one of the favourites, but in my mind five or six horses could be favourite. It is a very competitive race and yes he has a good chance but I think it is very open.”

If Sosie’s Arc credentials speak for themselves, then it is also easy to see why the Wertheimer and Frere team were keen for Christophe Ferland’s filly Aventure to take her place in Arc line-up.

Winner of the Prix de Royaumont and Prix de Pomone over the Arc trip this season, she was last seen pushing Bluestocking all the way in the Prix Vermeille.

“I think she ran very well in the Vermeille and has won two Group races this year over a mile and a half so she loves the distance,” continued Bureau

“We thought about the l’Opera, but we decided that might be a bit short for her and it was worth taking a chance against the colts in the big race. It is all related to the mile and a half that she needs.”

With one of France’s leading owner-breeding operations and also their names above the door of Paris institution the House Of Chanel, the Wertheimer brothers are at the heart of French culture.

It is therefore somewhat fitting if they rule the roost in the capital this weekend, a victory that would be the result of meticulous work behind the scenes of a racing powerhouse ready to return to the top of the sport.

“It’s a very long and old breeding operation and, being based in France, when you do the matings and everything, it is always about trying to have horses go to the big races like the Arc,” added Bureau.

“To have two runners in the Arc with good chances means a lot for the whole team, but now they have to make their arrival. It is a result of all the hard work of all the organisation so a good result would be important.”



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Fantastic Moon’s Arc bid hinges on suitable ground

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Connections will wait until the eleventh hour to give Fantastic Moon’s bid for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the go-ahead.

The four-year-old, who is trained by Sarah Steinberg, is Germany’s leading racehorse with six Group titles to his name for owners Liberty Racing.

Those include successes in the German Derby and the Prix Niel last year, the former seeing him emulate his sire, Sea The Moon, and the latter lining up a bid for the 2023 renewal of the Arc.

Twelve months ago the ground at ParisLongchamp was good to soft, conditions a little too testing for the bay colt to be seen at his best as he finished 11th in a field of 15.

He has returned this season in good form, however, winning a Group Two at Cologne before missing out on the Group One Grosser Dallmayr-Preis by a length at Munich.

After winning the Grosser Preis von Baden on his next start the Arc came into focus again for Fantastic Moon, but with a wet start to the autumn his participation is not guaranteed unless the ground dries out ahead of Sunday.

“At this moment it is 50-50, we will wait for the ground on Sunday morning,” said Liberty Racing’s Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten.

“We hope for for 3.5 on the French going stick, more than 3.6 is not good for him to bring his A-game so if the ground is more than 3.6, we will not run.

“We will decide on Sunday morning, if we get rain on Sunday we will wait to decide, perhaps after the first race or the second race.

“We will wait a very, very long time to decide because it’s a very good Arc, we have a great horse in the race and we need fair ground for him.

“It is possible because we have sun Friday and Saturday as well, if we do not get rain it is possible, I think 50-50.

“If not we will go to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, that’s our plan B.”



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Bluestocking and Sunway carry British hopes as Arc draw confirmed

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Bluestocking and Sunway will represent British interests in the 16-strong field for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

Drawn in stall three, the Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking was supplemented for the Group One spectacular on Wednesday at a cost of €120,000 for owners Juddmonte, having landed the Prix Vermeille over the Arc course and distance last month.

David Menuisier’s Sunway was a winner at the highest level as a juvenile but has failed to hit similar heights this term, most recently finishing third in the St Leger, and will have to contend with an outside draw in 15.

Prix du Jockey Club victor Look De Vega (eight) is at the head of the betting, despite suffering defeat at the hands of the reopposing Sosie (five) in the Prix Niel when last seen.

The latter is one of three contenders for trainer Andre Fabre with Mqse De Sevigne, winner of each of her four starts this term including three successive Group Ones, and Sevenna’s Knight also taking part.

Mqse De Sevigne will race from widest of all in stall 16 and Sevenna’s Knight will be in 12.

Aidan O’Brien is represented by Irish Derby victor Los Angeles (10) and last year’s Leger hero Continuous (14), but has taken out Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg. His son Joseph fields Al Riffa (nine), winner of a German Group One last time out.

The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor (11) is the latest Japanese runner to bid for Arc glory, with Delius, Aventure, Fantastic Moon, Zarakem, Survie and Haya Zark completing the field.



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Big weekend beckons for David Menuisier

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David Menuisier will unleash stable stars Sunway, Tamfana and Caius Chorister over the course of a big weekend on both sides of the Channel, as he attempts to finally get his hands on one of the season’s major prizes.

The Sussex-based Frenchman has been a regular participant in some of the year’s biggest events, but so far has just fallen short of lifting a trophy with what is arguably the best team of horses he has ever had at his disposal.

However, far from being deterred by a string of near-misses, there is hope he could at long last break his duck at the highest level this term with the ace cards he is set to play.

Trainer David Menuisier has been knocking on the door in Group Ones this season
Trainer David Menuisier has been knocking on the door in Group Ones this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

Menuisier told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s been a fantastic year and we’ve been at it most weekends. We’ve travelled to one or two places and been competitive including at Group One level all season.

“It’s been magical, but we need to score at Group One level and then it will be exceptional.”

Leading Menuisier’s charge is star colt Sunway, who although being available at long odds for Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has booked his ticket to Europe’s showpiece event with some smart performances this term.

Less than a length adrift of Los Angeles in the Irish Derby, he was a luckless fourth in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot before finishing third in the St Leger most recently.

“He has come out of the St Leger absolutely fine and he ran an absolute stormer once again,” continued Menuisier.

Sunway and Oisin Murphy
Sunway and Oisin Murphy have formed a great team (PA)

“He ran his heart out and has come out of the race fine and is now ready to go again. I’m hopeful he will tighten up for the race and run a stormer this weekend.

“He showed he stayed he really well in the Irish Derby, King George and St Leger so as the ground will be on the slow side and there will be a strong pace, I think the horse has all the ingredients to run a very good race.

“It’s a logical road for him and he has knocked on the door all season. He could have had a bit more luck in every single run apart from the Irish Derby, so it’s the logical race. It is one of the nicest races in the world and you have to take your chance. He’s run well enough all season to justify lining up.”

Menuisier will also seek Group One honours in his homeland with Caius Chorister, as the Clive Washbourn-owned stayer is set to contest the Prix de Royallieu – a race the trainer won with Wonderful Tonight in 2020 – on Saturday.

Tamfana will run at Newmarket on Saturday
Tamfana will run at Newmarket on Saturday (Steven Paston/PA)

However, closer to his Coombelands Racing Stables base, Menuisier will see Tamfana seek to build on her Atalanta Stakes victory when remaining at a mile for the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes.

The Newmarket Group One will see the daughter of Soldier Hollow return to the scene of her agonising 1000 Guineas fourth earlier in the season and her trainer is eager to see the three-year-old bag the top-level prize her efforts this season have deserved.

“The filly’s prep was great in the Atalanta and she is in really good condition,” added Menuisier.

“I blame the trainer for her not having a Group One to her name as of yet, but I have had a good word with him and made sure he corrects the situation.

“She will stay further in time but I really think it makes sense to stay at a mile for now. She was a bit short of staying one-mile-four in the Grand Prix de Paris, she probably stays one-mile-three.

“She stays in training next year and it will be fascinating to follow her progress in the next 12 months.”



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Vega team confident French Derby winner will be much improved in Arc

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Connections believe there is more to come from Look De Vega ahead of his bid for Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

The colt, who is trained by Carlos and Yann Lerner, now runs in the silks of Al Shaqab Racing and is still lightly raced having only taken to the track four times to date.

His debut at Fontainebleau last November was a heavy hint at the ability he possessed as he won by a facile seven lengths on his only run as a juvenile.

He returned this season to get his campaign underway with success in a minor race at ParisLongchamp, after which he stepped steeply up in grade to land the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, by two lengths in June.

With an unbeaten record he was then well backed to strike again in the Prix Niel over the Arc course and distance, but in a field of five he could only finish third when three and a half lengths behind fellow Arc contender Sosie.

Co-trainer Yann Lerner felt the horse was not at the height of his powers, however, and expects him to come forward again when returning to ParisLongchamp at the weekend.

“After the Jockey Club the horse had a break, we gave him three weeks off and then slowly started to bring him back for the second half of the season,” he said.

“During his break he put on quite a bit of weight and he had lost some of it by the time he went into the Prix Niel but he was still quite far away from his usual weight.

“Since the Prix Niel that weight has dropped and his last work showed that he is back to his weight that he was before.”

Of the Prix Niel loss, he added: “You have to deal with it, don’t you? The important thing is that we’re heading now to the Arc and in that race the way things unfolded for him was not really ideal.

“To be in front was not ideal, but the jockey really respected him and in retrospect he didn’t have a hard race.

“In hindsight I’m quite happy with how it went, it was like a proper work gallop and he has showed us since then that he has improved quite a bit since that last run.”

Look De Vega has been ridden by Ronan Thomas in all of his starts and the rider echoes Lerner’s sentiments that the Prix Niel run proved valuable despite the defeat.

“It was a prep race but we’re not going to lie to ourselves, we were disappointed because we would have loved to take the horse to the Arc with an unblemished record,” he said.

“The main thing is we learned a lot of things and that he has improved since that run.”



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Top filly Bluestocking added to Arc field

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Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking has been supplemented for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

It has cost her owners Juddmonte €120,000 to add the four-year-old to the field but after two Group One wins already this season, they felt it was a chance worth taking.

Bluestocking was a course and distance winner last time out in the Prix Vermeille, and finished second against the boys in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in August.

Her owners have already seen their famous pink, green and white silks carried to victory in the race by Rainbow Quest, Dancing Brave, Rail Link, Workforce and Enable twice meaning one more victory would take them clear of Marcel Boussac as the most successful owners in the race.

Beckett himself finished second with Westover in the Juddmonte colours 12 months ago.

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon said: “It’s exciting and she is in good form. Ralph has had a good look at her this morning, she cantered and had all her tests done and he was very happy with her condition.

“We feel she is in good form and we’re very much looking forward to Sunday. It’s going to be a tough task, but she’s a filly who runs her race every time and hopefully she will do so again on Sunday.”

A total of 18 remain in contention for Europe’s showpiece race with Aidan O’Brien taking out Opera Singer. She has also been removed from her other option in the Prix de l’Opera but Auguste Rodin still holds an Arc entry ahead of the final declaration stage on Thursday.



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Andre Fabre reflects on his record eight Arc triumphs

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Any conversation regarding the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has to start, and perhaps end, with Andre Fabre.

The former jump jockey has won Europe’s showpiece race a record eight times since he had his first runner in the contest way back in 1983.

He did not have to wait long for his first winner either. The Pat Eddery-ridden Trempolino in 1987 smashed the track record that had been set just 12 months earlier by none other than Dancing Brave.

Fabre was made to wait another five years for a second taste of glory but he dominated the race in the 1990s.

Subotica (1992), Carnegie (1994), Peintre Celebre (1997) and Sagamix (1998) all won for Fabre at a time when he all but ruled Flat racing in France.

While only Peintre Celebre of that group would be remembered as a truly great horse, it is perhaps a sign of Fabre’s skill and ability that he was able to win such a prestigious prize with horses he himself would describe as “not a champion”.

Andre Fabre has won the Arc a record eight times
Andre Fabre has won the Arc a record eight times (John Walton/PA)

“I think the reason the race is seen as the best in Europe is the timing. It comes when the three-year-olds have had chance to mature but then you also might get soft ground so it is a good time to meet with equal weapons,” said Fabre.

“The ground is obviously an important factor but if it goes heavy then it rewards those horses with more stamina – and why not?

“My first runner in it was Zalataia in 1983. She was a good horse (eighth to All Along) and I then had a few more goes before winning it.

“Trempolino was a very good horse indeed, in fact I don’t think he gets remembered as much as he should do. He beat Dancing Brave’s track record and lived until he was 34.

“He was very special to me as my first winner of the race – it was a fantastic ride by Pat Eddery, I must say that. He then went to the Breeders’ Cup and ran an amazing race to finish second as he carried the same weight as the older horses, otherwise he would have won.”

Five years later Subotica, who had been second in the Prix du Jockey Club a year earlier, beat a field that included User Friendly, St Jovite and Dr Devious.

“He was a bit backward at three and missed the Arc but he was a horse who was good at a good moment. He was not a champion but not a bad horse,” said Fabre.

“It is not for me to say I did a good job but he got a good ride (Thierry Jarnet) at a good moment. He beat some good horses and he had no pedigree to speak of really.”

Two years later Fabre provided Sheikh Mohammed with his first win in the race through Carnegie, who certainly was bred for the job.

“Carnegie was by Sadler’s Wells out of Detroit, who had won the Arc herself in 1980. He was a very good horse,” said Fabre.

Any conversation with Fabre, however, is rarely complete without a mention of his 1997 winner, Peintre Celebre. The 78-year-old has repeatedly hailed the chestnut as the best he has ever trained.

Peintre Celebre was imperious in the Arc
Peintre Celebre was imperious in the Arc (EMPICS Sport/PA Wire)

“Peintre Celebre was a champion, he had fantastic acceleration rarely seen. He could win races in a matter of strides,” enthused Fabre.

“In 1997 he achieved something rare, he won the Prix du Jockey Club, the Grand Prix de Paris and the Arc, he was the first since the 1940s to do that.

“He was horse of the year. Special. In that Arc were Pilsudski, Helissio, Swain and he won by five lengths.”

Just 12 months later Fabre was celebrating again, this time with Sagamix.

“He was very backwards at two so didn’t run. I think we can say to win the Arc with him was a good training achievement! When he won a maiden I thought we’d done an amazing job,” he said.

Sagamix (No.8) provided Andre Fabre with a fifth win in the Arc
Sagamix (No.8) provided Andre Fabre with a fifth win in the Arc (EMPICS Sport/PA Wire)

“I do remember being out for a meal with some friends in Deauville and they asked who would win the Arc. When I said Sagamix nobody had heard of him!

“He was a nice horse but by no means a champion, he was helped by the soft ground that year.”

In 2005 Hurricane Run atoned for a near-miss in the Prix du Jockey Club a few months earlier.

“He was a great horse. At three only Shamardal stopped him from winning the Jockey Club when he didn’t get the best ride. He then won the Irish Derby, the Prix Niel and the Arc, when he got a good ride from Kieren Fallon,” said Fabre.

Hurricane Run won the King George at Ascot after winning the Arc at three
Hurricane Run won the King George at Ascot after winning the Arc at three (Rebecca Naden/PA)

“A year later we won it with Rail Link who won a very strong Arc because Hurricane Run was in it again and there was Deep Impact.

“All my Arc winners were good horses but it surprises me how none of them were great stallions, Rail Link disappeared, Hurricane Run was not fertile, Peintre Celebre had some good horses (Pride, Byword) but not too many.

“It was really disappointing for me that Rail Link got injured and couldn’t run at four as I think he would have been even better, he was a great mover and a powerful horse.”

A 13 year drought followed for Fabre before Waldgeist won in 2019, but unfortunately for him he will be remembered as the horse who stopped Enable from becoming the first horse to win the Arc three times.

“A great race and a great ride from Pierre-Charles Boudot,” remembers Fabre.

“Not only was there Enable but Ghaiyyath and Sottsass too, but they went too fast too soon.

“He was a good horse, Waldgeist, he’d come close to winning the Prix du Jockey and Irish Derby at three and had not been beaten far by Enable the year before. I was pleased he got to win it.

“He was not a super horse but he was a good horse, very sound.”

With eight to chose from in his memory bank Fabre can stage his own Arc but there is little hesitation when asked to pick who might win between them.

“Peintre Celebre was the best, I’ve been lucky to train some great horses, but he was special.”



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Japanese support growing ahead of Al Riffa’s Arc date

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Joseph O’Brien is appreciative of all the support he has received from Japan as Al Riffa prepares to tackle the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

So far Europe’s richest middle-distance prize has eluded Japanese raiders, with both Nakayama Festa (2010) and Orfevre (2012 and 2013) both silver medallists in recent years and Through Seven Seas fourth behind Ace Impact 12 months ago.

This year it is Irish Champion Stakes third Shin Emperor who will primarily carry Japanese hopes, but O’Brien’s four-year-old has a distinct connection with Masaaki Matsushima part of the ownership and decorated Japanese jockey Yutaka Take taking the ride.

O’Brien finished no better than fifth in the Arc during his career in the saddle, but hopes improve on that with Al Riffa, in what he regards “as big a race as there is anywhere in the world”.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien dreams of winning the Arc with Al Riffa
Trainer Joseph O’Brien dreams of winning the Arc with Al Riffa (Niall Carson/PA)

“We have definitely had lots of well wishes from Japan and especially on social media we’ve had plenty of messages wishing us luck,” said O’Brien.

“It’s a pleasure to have the support of plenty of Japanese racing fans and hopefully we can do them proud at the weekend.

“It’s as big a race as there is anywhere in the world and it would rank right at the top as good as any if we could win it. I’m very happy to be going there with a live chance and hopefully the horse does us proud.”

Al Riffa’s big-race pilot Take is no stranger to riding in the ParisLongchamp feature and has visited O’Brien’s Owning Hill base to put the son of Wootton Bassett through his paces.

O’Brien continued: “Take is a legendary jockey with lots of experience riding in the Arc. He came to Ireland to sit on the horse last week and they seemed to have a very good relationship.

“It’s a real pleasure for me to have Yutaka riding Al Riffa and we have really felt the good wishes from all of Japan since their involvement in the horse. It’s special.”

Al Riffa is as short as 8-1 for Arc glory following his five-length success in the Grosser Preis von Berlin in August.

That was just his second Group One victory, but he has long been a consistent operator at the higher levels and his handler hopes he can follow in the footsteps of Danedream, who won the Hoppegarten event in 2011 before striking in the French capital.

“I think it is probably fair to say he has been slightly underrated,” added O’Brien.

“Even though he has won two Group Ones he has also ran some outstanding races and, to be quite honest, has run quite well almost every time.

“I think since Germany everybody has appreciated him and he has been spoken about as a live contender for the Arc, so that is really great for the horse and I’m proud to have a horse like him.

“To win a race like the Arc would be so special but we’re just hoping to run a good race, be competitive and then we’ll see what will happen on the day.”

Al Riffa has showcased his skills in a variety of conditions, leaving connections feeling at ease heading into the weekend’s showpiece contest.

O’Brien said: “Soft ground isn’t a disadvantage. He has handled a variety of conditions well in the past.

“When he was behind Ace Impact last year (at Deauville) it was pretty firm, but when he won his Group One as a two-year-old it was quite soft.

“We always thought he was a horse that would suit the Arc as he had the speed to run over shorter distances and he had lots of stamina in his pedigree.

“So we always thought potentially he was a horse for this, it’s been in the back of our mind for some time.”



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O’Brien expects Los Angeles to shine in Arc test

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Aidan O’Brien believes the best is still to come from Los Angeles as the Irish Derby winner is set to spearhead a two-pronged attack on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for Ballydoyle.

He is likely to be joined by last year’s fifth Continuous, but Luxembourg, Opera Singer and Auguste Rodin are all set to sidestep the race.

Opera Singer could run in the 10-furlong Prix de l’Opera instead, while Auguste Rodin is likely to head straight to the Japan Cup.

Los Angeles caught many an eye when running on into fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes over an inadequate 10 furlongs behind Economics.

“We think the most likely two are Los Angeles and Continuous. We think the ground probably isn’t going to be lively enough for the other two, Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg, and the filly (Opera Singer) might go to the l’Opera instead,” said O’Brien.

“We don’t think we’ve seen the best of Los Angeles yet. He’s a very big horse, he’s improving physically and there’s no doubt a mile and a half is right up his alley.

“He won the Irish Derby which is right-handed like Longchamp and we’ve been very happy. He’s had two preps really, he won the race at York (Great Voltigeur) and then when he went back to a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown. Hopefully we’ve done as much as we can for him to run as good a race as he can.”

Continuous won last year’s St Leger before running in the Arc and was third of five in the Prix Foy last time out.

“We were very happy with his run in the trial, he finished third, it didn’t suit him to make the running but obviously it was going to be a slow pace. We think he’ll be much better in a strongly-run race and we’ve been very happy with him since,” he said.

“We think both horses will handle an ease in the ground.

“Christophe (Soumillon) rode him the last day so it’s very possible he could ride him again.”

As for those that are likely to miss Sunday’s race, he added: “Auguste Rodin is still in at the moment but unless the ground is very nice he won’t run. He’ll probably go straight to the Japan Cup.

Opera Singer could run in the Prix de l'Opera rather than the Arc
Opera Singer could run in the Prix de l’Opera rather than the Arc (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“Opera Singer will do a bit of work in the morning and we’ll see how she is.

“The intention of running her in the trial (fifth in the Prix Vermeille) was to go back for the Arc, but we weren’t sure really what happened.

“We could go back for the Opera as that is the easier option. We also think she wouldn’t want bad ground, so we’re debating whether to run in the Arc or the Opera.”



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