Taghrooda, Treve, Japanese Take Aim on Arc

Pre-race favorite Taghrooda has a wide draw and 19 rivals to beat, including last year's winner Treve, in a full field for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), Europe's premier middle-distance race Oct. 5 at Longchamp.

 

The Arc, run at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), is the highlight of a 17-race weekend Oct. 4-5, worth a combined €9.2 million in purses ($11.5 in United States funds), at the Parisian track. The main event, with a €5 million ($6.25) purse, is one of eight group I events carded Oct. 5. 

 

HRTV will present live coverage of Arc Day, beginning at 7:30 a.m. EDT.

 

Winner of the Investec Epsom Oaks and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (both Eng-I) earlier this year for Sheikh Hamdan, 3-year-old filly Taghrooda will break from post 15 as the 11-2 favorite with Paul Hanagan. While the post is daunting, Treve overcame it to win last year's Arc in stunning fashion. Prior to that, the last horse to win from such a difficult post position was Dalakhani, who broke from the 14 hole in 2003.

 

''We'll take what we're given and there is no point making a fuss about it,'' Angus Gold, racing manager for Sheikh Hamdan, told England's Press Association. ''We might be better where we are than being stuck on the inside, but who knows? So much will depend on how the race is run.''

 

After winning the Oaks by 3 3/4 lengths in June, Taghrooda defeated males in the King George, romping by three lengths to stamp herself as a leading contender for the Arc. The victory capped a four-race win streak as Tapestry delivered a shocking upset in the Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-I), defeating her by a half length Aug. 21 at York. 

 

Coolmore and partners' Tapestry, trained by Aidan O'Brien, reopposes after being supplemented at a cost of €120,000 ($150,181).

 

Al Shaqab Racing's Treve, Europe's reigning Horse of the Year following an unbeaten season capped by the Arc, has gone winless in three starts this year, including a close runner-up finish to Cirrus des Aigles in the Prix Ganay (Fr-I) in April at Longchamp in her season debut. In her most recent outing she was fourth in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) Sept. 14. 

 

Returning to defend last year's Arc win, Treve will bid to join an elite group of six two-time winners: Alleged (1977, 1978), Ribot (1955, 1956), Tantieme (1950, 1951), Corrida (1936, 1937), Motrico (1930, 1932), and Ksar (1921, 1922). 

 

Trainer Andre Fabre has won the Arc a record seven times and will bid for an eighth with Khalid Abdullah's Flintshire. The 4-year-old colt has not won in three starts this year but posted seconds behind Cirrus des Aigles in the Coronation Cup (Eng-I) and Ruler of The World in the Prix Foy (Fr-II), a key prep for the Arc, last time out Sept. 14 at Longchamp. 

 

Ruler of The World, campaigned by Coolmore and partners along with Al Shaqab Racing, won the Prix Foy in front-running fashion for O'Brien, his first victory since capturing the 2013 Epsom Derby (Eng-I). 

 

For the 14th time since 1969, Japan is represented by runners in the Arc. 

 

An expected 5,000 Japanese fans will be at Longchamp in anticipation of a highly sought breakthrough for that nation by one of three contenders.

 

Trainer Naosuke Sugai enters both Akatsuki Yamatoya's Just a Way, the world's top-rated racehorse, won the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) in March, and Kobayoshi Eiichi Holdings' group I winner Gold Ship. The other Japanese hope is U Carrot Farm's classic-winning filly Harp Star, trained by Hiroyoshi Matsuda. 

 

In 2012 and 2013, Japan-based Orfevre came tantalizingly close to victory, finishing as the runner-up both years. 

 

Among other contenders are Spiritjim, winner of the 2014 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I); unbeaten French Oaks (Fr-I) winner Avenir Certain; Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-I) winner Kingston Hill; and multiple group I winner Al Kazeem, who returned to training this summer after proving subfertile at the stud earlier this year. 

 

1. 4. Flintshire (GB) (Dansili). M. Guyon, 131, A. Fabre

2.     6. Ruler of The World (IRE) (Galileo) F. Dettori, 131, A. O'Brien

3. 7. Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi), J. Doyle, 131, R. Charlton

4. 19. Ivanhowe (GER) (Soldier Hollow), W. Buick, 131, J. Carvalho

5. 13. Spiritjim (FR) (Galileo), S. Pasquier, 131, P. Bary

6. 2. Gold Ship (JPN) (Stay Gold), N. Yokoyama, 131, N. Sugai

7. 14. Just a Way (JPN) (Heart's Cry), Y. Fukunaga, 131, N. Sugai

8. 3. Treve (FR) (Motivator), T. Jarnet, 128, C. Head-Maarek

9. 18. Chicquita (IRE) (Montjeu) J. O'Brien, 128, A. O'Brien

10. 16. Siljan's Saga (FR) (Sagamix) P. C. Boudot, 128, J. P. Gauvin

11. 10. Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run), G. Benoist, 123, E. Lellouche

12. 11. Montviron (FR) (Le Havre), C. Stefan, 123, E. Lellouche

13. 9. Prince Gibraltar (FR) (Rock of Gibraltar), J. B. Eyquem, 123, J. C. Rouget

14. 20. Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman), A. Atzeni, 123, R. Varian

15. 17. Free Port Lux (GB) (Oasis Dream), M. Barzalona, 123, F. Head

16. 1. Avenir Certain (FR) (Le Havre), C. Lemaire, 120, J. C. Rouget

17. 5. Dolniya (FR) (Azamour), C. Soumillon, 120, A. de Royer-Dupre

18. 15. Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars), P. Hanagan, 120, J. Gosden

19. 12. Harp Star (JPN) (Deep Impact), Y. Kawada, 120, H. Matsuda

20. 8. Tapestry (IRE) (Galileo), R. Moore, 120, A. O'Brien