Ante-post favorites So You Think and Sarafina will be forced to overcome wide post positions in
Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Only Dalakhani
and Sakhee have managed to win from double-figure stalls since 1993, and both
Sarafina (13) and So You Think (14) face an instant disadvantage as they bid to
crown successful campaigns.
So You Think, who will be partnered once again by
Seamus Heffernan after the pair were successful in the July 2 Group 1Eclipse S. at
Sandown and Group 1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown September 3, was not the only Ballydoyle raider to fare badly with the draw as stable companion Treasure Beach
will exit from the 12 hole under Colm O’Donoghue. Joseph O’Brien’s booking for
St Nicholas Abbey completes the trio
of homegrown talent employed for the Rosegreen contenders. The latter has drawn
6, which has proved lucky in recent years as the stall from which Hurricane
Run, Dylan Thomas and Sea the Stars broke.
This is So You Think’s biggest test to date despite his tally of eight Group 1 wins and Aidan
O’Brien is approaching the race with relish.
“The Arc is an important race, we
are delighted he’s going there and are looking forward to it,” O’Brien said.
“This is the boys’ decision and it’s very exciting, as he’s a mile-and-a-quarter
specialist who quickens very well. We were delighted with him in the Irish
Champion, as it was his first run back from a break. He’s a very straightforward
horse and was a natural when he came to us — he’s a great traveler who is
getting a little lazy when he gets to the front now.”
Also drawn high is Snow Fairy, but trainer
Ed Dunlop was not panicking Friday.
“It is not an ideal draw, but I don’t
consider it makes too much difference to us in view of Snow Fairy’s style of
racing,” he said. “You can’t have everything and we have our ground.
Good-to-soft in France is totally different to what it is in Britain and with 29
degrees forecast for the weekend the going will definitely ride on the fast
side.”
Success for Snow Fairy would be the first for an older filly or mare
since Urban Sea 18 years ago, but last year’s Group 1 English and Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine
loves traveling abroad for the big occasions. Improving for the change of
scenery when capturing the ultra-competitive November 14 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II
Commemorative Cup and December 12 Group 1 Hong Kong Cup, she ruffled So You Think’s
feathers on her latest excursion for the Irish Champion.
“Our filly has had a
trouble-free preparation and, while we are under no illusions that she faces a
very tough task, she looks to have improved again since the Irish Champion S.
and we will give it our best shot,” Dunlop continued. “The Arc is a hard race to
win, but we go there with a sporting chance.”
One who enjoyed greater fortune with the post position was Workforce, who will race from the same stall eight from which
he was successful 12 months ago. Connections are happy with the state of the
ground, having walked the track.
“I hope the draw is as lucky as last year and he’s
fared better than some of the other fancied runners,” Khalid Abdulla’s Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe
told PA Sport. “We walked the track this
morning and it is on the easy side of good, they put 10 millimeters on so from
that point of view we are fairly happy. Obviously, depending on what the weather
does, they will consider putting more on and review the situation on Saturday
night and I’m hopeful of a happy outcome. He’s had a few problems but you can’t
say he’s an unlucky horse, as he’s won an Arc and a (Group 1) Derby so he’s had things go
right for him as well and that’s racing.
“It’s obviously great to
have Ryan (Moore) back, for all the best reasons. He knows him, he’s the only
one to have ridden him, he knows what to expect. We don’t feel pressure, that’s
not the right word. We look forward to these races — it is what you are involved
in the game for. There have not been many dual Arc winners and we’ve got a bit
of work to do to join them.”
Teruya Yoshida on Friday acquired a half share in Germany’s Arc hope Danedream,
who will break from stall 2 which housed the
1994 and 1997 heroes Carnegie and Peintre Celebre, respectively.
“She will be ridden on Sunday by
my stable jockey Andrasch Starke, but will be wearing new colors,” trainer
Peter Schiergen told the Racing Post Friday. The
arrangement is that she will be staying in training with me next season, but go
to stud in Japan in 2013.”
Danedream, who was supplemented on Thursday, cost the
Volz family of Gestut Burg Eberstein just €9,000 at the 2010 Baden-Baden
Breeze-Up Sale. She has since won the Group 2 Oaks d’Italia at the San Siro May 29,
Group 1 Deutschland-Preis at Hoppegarten July 24 and September 4 Group 1 Grosser Preis von
Baden.
“I’m not worried about the going, she can act on any ground; it was very
fast when she won the Italian Oaks and again at Hoppegarten, and testing at
Baden-Baden,” Schiergen added.