Arc field begins to take shape; minimal course watering
expected
There were no surprise defections after Tuesday’s latest forfeit stage for
Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp. Christopher Tsui’s
likely favorite SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]) heads a maximum team of seven
from Ireland, with Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base responsible for the other
six. His entourage is headed by Irish Derby (Ire-G1) hero FAME AND GLORY
(Montjeu [Ire]) and four-time Gold Cup (Eng-G1) winner YEATS (Ire) (Sadler’s
Wells). However, Yeats is likely to run in the Prix du Cadran (Fr-G1) later on
Sunday’s card.
Connections of the controversially disqualified Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) winner
DAR RE MI (Singspiel [Ire]) have confirmed the four-year-old distaffer is on
course to take her berth in Sunday’s €4
million event.
“Dar Re Mi is an intended runner and will line up for the Arc as long as
she’s okay, which right now she is,” Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber’s racing manager
Simon Marsh told Racing Post. “The plan has always been for her to have
an autumn campaign, and she doesn’t mind how the ground rides — soft or fast —
so that’s not a concern.”
The beneficiary of her demotion, Martin Schwartz’s still unbeaten STACELITA
(Monsun), is expected to be entered at tomorrow’s €100,000
supplementary stage along with Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) victor CAVALRYMAN (Halling).
Lady Bamford’s dual classic winner SARISKA (Pivotal) also requires
supplementing, but she remains a doubt on account of the currently unsuitable
going.
Juddmonte’s Prix Foy (Fr-G2) winner SPANISH MOON (El Prado [Ire]), who is
banned from racing in Britain at present, is unlikely to make the gig and has
been left in the field as a precautionary measure.
“Spanish Moon was kept in the Arc just in case several of the top horses, or
actually one horse in particular (Sea the Stars), came out,” racing manager
Teddy Grimthorpe told Racing Post. “We will be looking instead at the
Breeders’ Cup, Japan and Hong Kong.”
Racecourse officials have decided upon a minimal program of watering of the
Longchamp track, having been influenced by a possible break in the weather.
Ground conditions are currently described as “good-to-firm”, but dry conditions
seem set to make way for possible rain at the end of the week.
“I am still aiming for good ground for Sunday’s meeting and that has always
been my objective, weather permitting,” clerk of the course Christian Delporte
told Racing Post.