Sunday 6th October 2013

Qatar Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe (Group 1)

With the flat season drawing to a close in the UK, the majority involved turn their attentions to Longchamp where Europe's premier middle distance thoroughbreds take to the biggest stage & go head to head in the continent's richest turf race, namely 'The Arc'. The french name of the race translates as "It's not a race, it's a monument" & i'm sure that connections would agree with this as they come here hoping that their entries can go on from strong performances in their own countries & take the ultimate prize.

The big group 1 races are often tight & they don't come any bigger than this one, so every runner in this field deserves their place, therefore nothing should be completely disregarded. Great Britains charge is 4 strong & those four all bring forward very strong credentials. Starting with the Ed Dunlop trained JOSHUA TREE, easily the least fancied of the British trained 4 & was below his best recently. Best form came over in America when winning a group 1 at Woodbine over today's trip but hasn't been able to reach those heights since. AL KAZEEM lines up for the Charlton stable here & He has been one of the stand out group 1 horses this season back in the UK winning 3 times & jockey James Doyle has said that today's trip of a mile & a half should suit very well & this may well be what he needs to get really competitive again after going slightly off the boil recently, does have the widest draw of the lot to contend with though so looks up against it. Aiden O'Brien sends over 2 runners, firstly St Ledger hero LEADING LIGHT, who looked a real top stayer when winning the final classic of the season from the front & while he isn't without a chance in this, he may well set the pace & therefore set the race up for a strong finish which could play right into the hands of the second of O'briens runners, Epsom Derby winner RULER OF THE WORLD who looked back to the level that is expected of him when last seen finishing a close second in the Prix Niel. He is sure appreciate the easing ground & a big run from him under one of the strongest finishers around in Ryan Moore could see him right up there.

On other fronts, for France Andre Fabre saddles no less than 5 runners most notably INTELLO, who comes into this as another who should relish the easing ground & has shown that he can compete at group 1 level when winning the Prix Du Jockey Club over 10f back in June, Staying on well so today's trip should suit & he's not without a chance. Fabre also enters FLINTSHIRE & OCOVANGO who finished 1st & 3rd respectively in the group 1 Grand Prix De Paris over C&D back in June, The latter of which also finished only 3 parts of a length behind the aforementioned Prix Niel runner up so both of these command a level of respect. Japan's KIZUNA beat Ruler Of The World by a short head in the Prix Niel last time out & he stayed on well i think he was a tad fortunate & can see Ruler Of The World is getting a clear run reversing that form. KIZUNA won that race none the less & ran well so is entitled to his place here, could be more to come but might find one or two too strong. France's Stand in this race is strengthened further by trainer Head-Maarek's unbeaten filly TREVE, who's winning performance over C&D last time out in the group 1 Prix Vermielle screamed class, She showed on that day that soft ground is of no trouble to her as she brushed aside the field on the rail inside the final furlong & looked as though she had more in the tank. Frankie Dettori's injury this week means he can't take the mount but Frankie loss is Thierry Jarnets gain. This filly looks set to put down a strong challenge to maintain her unbeaten record & looks a key player despite a wide draw. The early market leader ORFEVRE is another challenger of Japan, who was the runner up in this race last year when overcoming the widest draw to sweep round the field & look to have the race all but won before not seeing it out properly & being done on the line. Has had only the one run since in group 2 over C&D a few weeks ago & ran out an easy winner. Does have these little strange tendencies but if he brings his top game tomorrow there is every chance he will be hard to beat under top jockey Christophe Soumillon & has a much better draw this year.

Chirpy's Verdict -

There can be no denying that there are plenty who have the credentials to go well here & it would be ill advised to conclusively rule out any of those towards the front of the market especially. It is an interesting fact that in the last 19 runnings of this race 15 have been won by 3 year olds. INTELLO, FLINTSHIRE, AL KAZEEM, OCOVANGO & KIZUNA all make some each way appeal at likely bigger odds but in my opinion on the hard evidence the winner is likely to come from the following 3. RULER OF THE WORLD proved he was over his Curragh disappointment last time out & could get the strong finish he should thrive on providing stable mate Leading Light sets the pace as anticipated. The Filly TREVE looked a real class act last time out & if getting the correct position to execute that potent turn of foot she has a very good chance. ORFEVRE has to be on anyone's short list despite his tendencies & the fact he looked to have the race sewn up last year after going the long way round from stall 18 means a repeat of that sort of form would see him right up there.

Hopefully readers find this review both helpful/useful & as always if anyone has any questions or feedback then do contact me via twitter or on the email which can be found on the home page. Good luck with whoever you choose.