PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE LUCIEN BARRIERE

Distance: 2400 metres - One Mile Three Furlongs and 205 Yards

By Graham Richards

Arc de Triomphe runners

Ian Carnaby's view of the Arc

Authorized FSF 134: For many people the highlight of the season has been Frankie Dettori’s Derby win. It was achieved in stunning fashion by Authorized. Making his seasonal debut in the Dante at York, he travelled beautifully before hacking up. Authorized was quickly made a hot favourite for the Blue Riband and he did not let down his supporters. Once again, he travelled supremely well throughout the race, surging past his rivals to win with ease. Authorized was subsequently dispatched to Sandown Park thirty-five days later. Running right-handed for the first time the race developed into a farce; the winner of a prestigious Group One on one side of the track and the placed horses on the other side. Without delving further into the whys and wherefores, I believe the race came too soon after his race at Epsom.

Repeatedly, we are told the Epsom Derby is the ultimate test for horse and jockey. It should therefore not come as a complete surprise the previous four winners of the race have been unable to win a race subsequently. Mercifully, Authorized was given a good break to recover mentally and physically. He returned to action in the Juddmonte at York’s Ebor meeting. Any suggestion the distance of the race would be a problem, after the Eclipse defeat, was quickly put to bed as the horse once again travelled supremely well throughout the race. Quickening to lead a furlong from home, the race was a good as over at that point. Dylan Thomas was having trouble extricating himself from his position in behind the leaders and ran on all too late.

We now know Authorized can win on good, good to soft and heavy ground. He has Group One victories over ten and twelve furlongs on his C.V. and will come into the race fresh and bouncing. Some pundits will say he has not proved himself going right-handed. I prefer to go with the “one race too many” theory in the Eclipse. Sandown Park is hardly the best place to test a horse’s ability to handle right-handed tracks, as the runners have a long straight to sort themselves out. In 2001, Sakhee followed the Juddmonte route to Arc glory; it will take a performance of the highest class to prevent Authorized repeating the same feat.

Soldier Of Fortune FSF 131: Soldier Of Fortune ran away with the Irish Derby on soft ground. He was then rested until the Prix Niel at Longchamp in early September. Racing on ground considered to fast for him, he travelled before putting the race to bed a furlong from home. He looked tired in thee closing stages, which have been due to his long lay off, or the fast ground under hoof. With the ground far more in his favour at Longchamp, he looks sure to run a good race.

However, I am concerned that hard race, on firmish ground, may take its toll in the closing stages. Aidan O’Brien possesses an uncanny knack of keeping horses at their peak for long periods, and racing them regularly at the highest level. In addition, no concerns have been echoed by the Ballydoyle maestro nor has there been any market weakness in the colt.

Zambezi Sun FSF 126: Zambezi Sun burst onto the scene with a devastating burst of speed to take the Grand Prix De Paris. He had previously finished fourth in the Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Rested until the Niel, he arrived at Longchamp having missed some work due to a foot problem, three weeks prior to the race. Given what can only be described as an “easy time” in the closing stages, he finished third to Soldier Of Fortune.

My reaction at the time was he would reverse the form in the Arc itself. However, the reality is that he has to improve 5lb to pass Soldier of Fortune. This is based on my FSF figures. One can argue he will come on for the race and will almost certainly have improved as he has strengthened over the summer. However, that remark also applies to Soldier of Fortune who in fairness has hardly stood still himself. It will be a close run affair between the two of them though both need to find more to trouble Authorized.

Dylan Thomas FSF 127: Dylan Thomas is a genuine Group One performer over ten and twelve furlongs. He is best when there is a fast pace on god to firm or firm ground. Unfortunatley, the “terrain” as the French say will be far from suitable; I fear his chance may have been compromised by the Gallic rain.

Mandesha FSF 122: Missed last seasons Arc and it looks as though her chance of glory has gone with that setback. Quite simply she has not looked the same filly this season, I will be surprised if she can produce a performance good enough to win the race this season.

Sagara FSF 121: Burst onto the scene with a stylish win at Deauville. However, he was was put in his place by Soldier Of Fortune and will surely struggle to make an impact unless a valid excuse is forthcoming.

Saddex FSF 120: Saddex is an improving horse. He has won all his races this season and comes to the race fresh and well. When I suggested a small interest a few weeks ago, I was hoping he would duck the big race at Baden-Baden. This he did and he should not be under estimated. German trained horses are more than capable of taking a leading role on the world stage and this fellow may follow Star Appeal into the record books. His latest win was achieved in comfortable fashion and he won in similar vein at Chantilly in June. Horses that have finished behind him have not been disgraced at a higher level. Bussoni won the prestigious Bosphorus Cup in Turkey, while the runner up in that race took a Group Three in a canter last weekend. Whether he can get past Authorized is debatable; however, I believe he holds solid each-way claims.

Youmzain FSF 121: Youmzain is a consistent performer and just below the very best horses. He has not had an easy time since slipping up at Ascot last season. He also seemed to lose his footing the King George this season. His profile suggests he is best in smaller fields and this may be due to a fear of being crowded. The ground should not prove a problem and he has an outside chance of reaching a place.

Dragon Dancer FSF 116: Runner-up in last seasons Derby he is the classic example of how long it takes to recover from that race. Geoff Wragg has done well to get him back to winning form though his task here looks beyond his capabilities.

Getaway FSF 115: Out and out stayer; my read of his supplement is that Andre Fabre feels there is going to be plenty of pace on and he will be staying on when other have cried enough. Fabre has said in the past you need a Group One horse to make the pace for a Group One race. Aidan O’Brien’s entries include Group One performers Red Rock Canyon and Yellowstone. One can be almost certain there will be and end to end gallop with those horses in the field. His other entries are perhaps there to make the passage of the favourite and other fancied horses more of a challenge for their respective pilots. On the other hand, am I just being cynical?

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