Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1)

An open Arc with plenty in with chances.

The Irish Champion Stakes may hold the key with the third and fourth coming to Paris. Shin Emperor caught the eye when short of room 2f out before powering home in third when getting daylight with Los Angeles coming wide to finish fourth.

Los Angeles at Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes

The suspicion given was another two furlongs would have seen the pair fight out the finish. Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi representing Japan, is a full brother to Scottass who followed a similar route when fourth at Leopardstown in 2020 before going on to Arc glory. It was always the plan to prep Los Angeles, the Irish Derby winner over 10f at Leopardstown for the Arc.

Shin Emperor at Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes

The home team will be positive about the outcome.

On trials day a few weeks ago Andre Fabre’s Sosie looked a class act beating Delius and Look De Vega (winner of the Prix du Jockey Club in June) in the Prix Neil. The stable also has dual G1 winner Mqse De Sevigne who tackles 1m4f trip for the first time. Aventure will look to continue the good record of three-year-old French fillies in the race, her second to the now-supplemented Bluestocking, the winner of the Pretty Poly Stakes in June at the Curragh, in the Prix Vermeille puts her in the mix.

Bluestocking winning the Pretty Poly at the Curragh

German form can’t be ignored either. Fantastic Moon won the Grosser Preis von Baden while Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, who gave City Of Troy a scare in the Eclipse proved his ability over the trip when taking the Grosser Preis von Berlin.

Al Riffa at the Curragh before winning the National Stakes

There’s plenty of quality in the outsiders, chief among them being Continuous last year’s Leger winner who warmed up for this when third in the Prix Foy while Sunway, third in this year’s Leger, hasn’t much to make up with Los Angeles on Irish Derby form.

As ever luck in running is required. If Shin Emperor under Ryusei Sakai gets a clear run the Japanese can be the ones celebrating a first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe win. Al Riffa can chase him home.

Recommendation

Shin Emperor 7/1 win

Al Riffa 9/1 ew

Shin Emperor/ Al Riffa (reverse forecast)