Taghrooda readies for Arc with Rowley Mile work; Benoist
chooses Ectot
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe co-favorite Taghrooda worked over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile
on Wednesday under regular jockey Paul Hanagan in preparation for that October 5 Longchamp assignment.
“She worked this morning and, touch-wood, it went well,”
said Angus Gold, racing manager to Taghrooda’s owner Sheikh
Hamdan. “Paul was very happy with her. She looked good, moved well
and seemed enthusiastic, so it’s so far, so good. The plan is
very much to go for the Arc.”
Taghrooda, winner of this year’s Epsom Oaks and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth, lost her unbeaten record
when second in the Yorkshire Oaks on August 21.
“Today was a case of taking her away to give her a
change of scenery,” Gold noted of the Sea the Stars filly. “She’ll have another gallop. I don’t
know when, it will be up to (trainer John Gosden). The main thing was she
seemed enthusiastic and Paul was delighted with her.”
In other Arc news, jockey Gregory Benoist has chosen to pilot Ectot in the
Group 1 affair.
After riding Ectot to victory in the September 14 Prix Niel at Longchamp, Benoist
was faced with the decision between riding that Hurricane Run sophomore or this year’s dual
classic-winning filly Avenir Certain in the Arc de Triomphe. He announced his
decision on Wednesday, leaving Christophe Lemaire aboard Avenir Certain, according to
Jour de Galop.
Benoist has ridden the Ellie Lellouche-trained Ectot in
all seven of his lifetime starts, including last year’s Criterium International. Ectot was making his first start in five
months in the Niel. The jockey was also aboard Avenir Certain for her Poule d’Essai des Pouliches
(French One Thousand Guineas) and Prix de Diane (French Oaks) wins.
Avenir Certain has moved into joint 6-1 Arc favoritism with
fellow three-year-old filly Taghrooda while Ectot is the 7-1 joint second choice with Japanese star Just
a
Way.
Had Benoist chosen Avenir Certain, Frankie Dettori could
have been in line to ride Ectot. Nonetheless, the Italian
native — who was recently taken off defending winner Treve — could partner Ruler of the World, who he rode to victory in
the Prix Foy on September 14.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com