Qatar Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe

It’s a day of top quality with the centre piece of seven Group 1 contests being Europe’s richest race. Everyone wants to it win it because its simply the best race of the season.

The weather in Paris is hot with ground to match. That’s a surprise that may well dictate the outcome. Fast ground is unusual in Paris at the best of times but in October its exceptional. You’ve got to think it will be the deciding factor. Only three of these, Silver Pond, Shareta and Testosterone have not won a Group 1, the remainder have all eaten at the top table.

The eastern challenge came very close last year and Nakayama Festa repeats the bid. He is joined by Hiruno D’Amour. The former was having his first run in the Prix Foy after an injury picked up in the Japan Cup last year led to a long lay off. His last place was gained off a strong pace, which he set, and it will have done a lot to bring him on. In front of him were St Nicholas Abbey, his compatriot Hiruno D’Amour and Sarafina. The mare won it snugly coming through a tight gap showing her sharp turn of foot. It wasn’t easy but it certainly was comfortable and Alain De Royer-Dupre will have been nothing but pleased.

He was also responsible for the Prix Neil winner Reilable Man who overturned Grande Prix De Paris running with Meandre. Neither colts were wound up and in the match between them Andre Farbe’s has the potential to come out on top. That might be enough to win.

Conditions have all fallen right for Snow Fairy for the first time this season. She will love the ground and her half lenght to make up on So You Think is well within her grasp. At Leopardstown in the Champion Stakes the 10 furlongs looked a touch sharp. The extra two will surely benefit her now.

It’s a big ask for Workforce and you have to go back to Alleged to find the last winning defender of the title. He found Nathaniel too good in the King George and before that So You Think in the Eclipse. Its hard to see him overcoming the weight concession to the three year old’s off his current level of form.

Galikova does not ooze the same class as Goldikova yet, but if big sis wins the Prix De La Floret, you can expect a fair wedge to come for her on the Pari Mutual. Danedream represents Germany and comes off the back of two very good runs where she had 6 and 5 L to spare. The quality of what she beat was not of this standard but she commands respect in the way she did it.

John Gosden had to withdraw his very exciting three year old Nathaniel as the ground turned to rock but he made a real statement of intent when supplementing Masked Marvel. A Ledger winner for the Arc? As I say the ground will decide.

So You Think’s only mistake came to the ill fated Rewilding and Aidan was quick to put his hands up. You can’t fault him and the Aussies will flock on mass to support the one they regard as their own. A win here will certainly seal the deal and leave no one in doubt whose the best middle distance horse in the world. It will be a tremendous achievement for Coolmore and a resounding vindication of the decision to bring him north but it will also be his first taste at 12 furlongs. It’s not an issue having travelled in the Melbourne Cup for much of the 16 furlongs but this is a different cake.

The forgotten one is surely his stable mate. Collared in the shadow of the post by Pour Mio at Epsom, who would have started favourite had injury not ended his career, he went on to smoothly take the Irish Derby. A midsummer trip for the Grande Prix De Paris probably came too soon after the Curragh but confidence was restored in the Secretariat at Arlington on Million day.

He will have to step up but with the three year old record in the last twenty years, the weight concession from the older horses and fast ground then the sizzling summer weather points to a Treasure Beech.