One of the greatest races of the season, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) is set for this Sunday, October 6 at Longchamp racecourse in France. As of Monday morning, Sept. 30, there are 18 horses entered for the Arc with final entries coming on Wednesday. Currently the outlook for the turf course is on the good-to-soft side.
Last year the winner was Ace Impact, and the home team appears to have a strong chance of keeping the valuable prize with Sosie, trained by Andre Fabre and Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega heading the betting.
Fabre is also high on the filly Mqse de Sévigné (Siyouni), who is named after the aristocrat of the early 1600s Madame de Sévigné.
Japan’s desire to win the Arc is well known and Shin Emperor, who ran encouragingly in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, will bid to break a famous duck for Yoshito Yahagi.
It is a long shortlist and one which includes plenty of British and Irish representation, notably Irish Derby winner Los Angeles, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Al Riffa and David Menuisier’s Sunway. Bluestocking, the gutsy Prix Vermeille winner, could be supplemented and would be another leading contender for Ralph Beckett.
Australian-based stable OTI wrote on ‘X’ on Monday:
“With the track at Longchamp expected to be soft, Sevenna’s Knight will take his place in the 2400m Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next Sunday.
“Following a dominant Group Two and two Group Three victories this season, his owners can have confidence that he will be competitive in what is regarded by most as the world’s most prestigious event. Andre Fabre has confirmed that Mickael Barzalona, the entire’s regular jockey, will take the ride.
“Many of his Australian-based owners will make the journey to Paris to witness what could be the most exciting day of their racing lives.”
Longchamp will also host a further five Group 1s – two for the juveniles, in addition to the Foret, Abbaye and Opera. It truly should be an unmissable day of action.
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