Anthony Van Dyck Scratched from Arc
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Anthony Van Dyck wins the Derby at Epsom
This year's Investec Derby Stakes (G1) winner, Anthony Van Dyck, will not take on Enable in the Oct. 6 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp after he was scratched in the latest round of forfeits.
On Monday, trainer Aidan O'Brien said the ground would need to be good or better for Anthony Van Dyck to line up. But after 5.5 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, the ground was soft Wednesday morning, and the 3-year-old will now sidestep Europe's richest race for a possible crack at the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
However, the Ballydoyle trainer still has Japan and Magical on course for Sunday's race.
The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Soft Light was supplemented for €120,000 (US$130,898), meaning a field of 12 remains. The son of Authorized is yet to win on six attempts this season but has finished second on four occasions. He was four lengths behind Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) winner Japan in his only group 1.
If all 12 line up, it will be the smallest Arc field since 2007, when Soft Light's sire finished 10th under Frankie Dettori.
Bred in Ireland by Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt, Anthony Van Dyck is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Believe'N'Succeed, who won the 2008 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Prelude (G3) for trainer Mark Kavanagh. Anthony Van Dyck is a half sister to New Zealand champion sprinter Bounding, whose first foal, a colt by Curlin , was recently purchased by Godolphin for $4.1 million out of the Eaton Sales consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
In addition to his Derby win, Anthony Van Dyck has hit the board in two other group 1 tests this year, placing second and third in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, respectively.