TDN International Editor Kelsey Riley Talks Arc On Writers’ Room

In addition to all the Stateside action this weekend–the final leg of the Triple Crown, Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland and 11 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events–the biggest race of the year in Europe will also be run with Sunday’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris. Wednesday on the TDN Writers’ Room podcast presented by Keeneland, TDN International Editor Kelsey Riley joined the crew as the Green Group Guest of the Week to talk about the much-anticipated showdown between Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), how heavy rains may impact the running and much more.

Asked whether or not the Arc is a two-horse affair as the bettors have surmised, Riley said, “Oh no. It’s very much an open race, and the major development this week has been the rain that’s falling in Paris. Right now, the course at Longchamp is listed as ‘very soft’, which is the same as what it was last year when Enable ran second, and there’s more rain still forecast to come … So you have a horse like Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who’s been the best stayer in Europe the past couple seasons. I think that the soft going will help his chances a bit. It’ll turn the race into a bit more of a stamina contest.”

Stradivarius, currently a distant third choice for the bettors behind Enable and Love, is not the only potential upsetter on Riley’s radar.

“Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was third in last year’s Arc over this same soft going and ran a very game race there,” she said. “He won a Group 1 race [the Prix Ganay] in France earlier this year. His trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget has spoken very highly of him this week coming into it, saying this is the best he’s ever had him, and that they’ve had this as their key target ever since he finished third last year. Another horse that I find a little interesting is Rouget’s ‘other’ horse, the only other 3-year-old filly in the race besides Love, Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}). She was very impressive winning her first two starts this spring, and Jean-Claude, right from that point, was saying, ‘This is our Arc filly.'”

The success of fillies and mares has been a consistent theme throughout Arc history. Riley was asked about why they’ve competed so frequently and done so well against males in the race.

“With the weight scale in France this time of year, the 3-year-old fillies get a big weight break for the Arc,” she said. “They carry 121 pounds, which is what Enable carried when she won her first Arc. Three-year-old colts carry 125, older mares 128 and older horses 131 pounds. It’s also down to the fact that, especially at this time of year in Europe, there are fewer opportunities at the Group 1 level for [fillies and mares] over the mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. In both Britain and France, there are only two Group 1 races for fillies and mares from the summer onward.”

Elsewhere on the show, the writers discussed the Horseracing Safety Integrity Act passing the U.S. House of Representatives, broke down the 11-horse GI Preakness S. and reacted to Improbable (City Zip) taking charge in the older male division. Then, in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, they analyzed the Kentucky Supreme Court decision that puts the future of historical horse racing machines in doubt and tried to figure out why alternative forms of gaming continue to grow while racing’s handle declines. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version.

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‘Arcs Are Never Easy To Win’: Frankie Dettori Talks Enable’s Chances In Fourth Arc De Triomphe

Champion racemare Enable will run in her fourth edition of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next Sunday, trying to become the first horse in history to win the race three times. The 6-year-old daughter of Nathaniel won the Arc in 2017 and 2018, but finished second to Waldgeist over testing ground in 2019.

Her jockey, Frankie Dettori, talked to the Racing Post on Friday about the mare's chances to make history.

“I'm sure Enable will run her very best as she always has in the Arc but that might not be good enough with the likes of Love getting 7 lbs,” Dettori said. “The 3-year-old fillies when they are that good like Zarkava, Treve, Danedream and Enable have proved a tough nut to crack in the past.

“Arcs are never easy to win as everyone will be there as they all want to win one including the Derby winner, Love, and Stradivarius.”

Trained by John Gosden, Enable won the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Group 3 September Stakes this year. Her current record stands at 12 wins from 15 starts, including the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Though the Arc is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is expected to be Enable's final race before her retirement to the breeding shed.

Read more at the Racing Post.

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Mogul, Anthony Van Dyck Could Target Arc De Triomphe After Weekend Victories

This Sunday ParisLongchamp was hosting to Qatar Arc Trials day. Just three weeks before Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, three separate events give us some clues before the big day.

• In the three-year-old colts division, the Irish-trained Mogul made a huge impression when dominating the field in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1).

• The distaff division saw another success for the Irish as Tarnawa took the Qatar Prix Vermeille, carrying the prestigious colours of HH The Aga Khan and ridden to perfection by adopted Frenchman Christophe Soumillon.

• And in the older horse division, they contested the Qatar Prix Foy… yet another Irish winner thanks to the mighty Anthony Van Dyck.

The betting for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe following Sunday's racing :

  • Love Ireland 6/4
  • Enable England 2/1
  • Magical Ireland 12/1
  • Ghaiyyath England 14/1
  • Mishriff England 14/1
  • Tiger Moth Ireland 14/1
  • Stradivarius England 16/1
  • Mogul Ireland 20/1
  • Raabihah France 20/1
  • Sottsass France 20/1

JUDDMONTE GRAND PRIX DE PARIS

Irish-trained Mogul (Galileo) landed the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in impressive style. Keeping it in the family: Mogul's full brother Japan himself was an outstanding winner of this very race last season!

Mogul gave his trainer Aidan O'Brien a third consecutive win in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, having been successful with Japan in 2019 and Kew Gardens – another son of the world-famous stallion Galileo – in 2018.

Always faithful to his team, but owing to the restrictions in place due to Covid-19, Aidan O'Brien called up crack French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot to take the ride Mogul. Pierre-Charles, nicknamed “PC” by his fans, actually won his very first Group 1 (race at the highest level) of his career in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris when riding a horse owned by the same connections, Gallante, trained by André Fabre, back in July 2014.

Mogul hasn't had the perfect career and doesn't have a solid string of successes to his name, unlike some of the champions trained by Aidan O'Brien. But he has always been held in very high regard by his connections and was regularly chosen as the number one choice for Coolmore by the stable jockey.

Having only finished 6th in the Epsom Derby in July 2020, Mogul finally claimed his first Group 1 success in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris and is now amongst the favourites for next month's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Pierre-Charles Boudot, jockey of Mogul (1st) :

« His trainer really was confident. When I had him on the phone before the course he explained to me that he was a horse that needed to be held up a bit, but had a huge turn of foot and that the longer I could wait, the better, as he doesn't do too much in front. There was no pressure and I let the others do the work. The pace was nice and constant. Turning in I had a feeling that I was going to get a run down the rail and the horse just picked them off one by one, he gave me his all just to the line, he was perfect. When I saw the pacemaker was still four or five lengths clear I knew that I would have plenty of time to make my move as he came back to me, the perfect scenario.

Coolmore is one of the biggest breeding operations in the world and it is always a pleasure, and honour to ride and to win for them. We will see if I get the ride on him in the Arc, it should be interesting! »

Mogul could find himself amongst the line-up for Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. But there is a chance Pierre-Charles Boudot may not be able to ride him and may have to side with Persian King (Kingman)recent impressive winner of the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Francis-Henri Graffard, trainer of In Swoop (2nd) :

« Before the race, I would have been happy with second place, that's a great run. We were worried that he might have been found out for a bit of speed. He just keeps grafting away and Ronan knows him, he knows to keep after him. Just as I was hoping, he has finished off really strongly. Two weeks ago I would have never thought that he would have come here in such good condition, he takes his work well. I kept him going in strong work throughout the summer, he is very straightforward and willing. I think a softer ground would play to his strengths. He holds an entry in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Gr2) and the Grosser Preis von Bayern (Gr1): I will have a discussion with the owners and we will come to a decision »

The horse should run in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE

After Mogul's victory in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, Ireland took a second Group 1 of the day at ParisLongchamp – the Qatar Prix Vermeille – thanks to Tarnawa (Shamardal), a filly owned by HH The Aga Khan and ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Having been held up towards the rear of mid-division, the filly coasted through the field as they took the 'false homestretch' towed along by the O'Brien-trained Laburnum (Galileo). She then showed a lightning turn of foot to devour long time leader Dame Malliot (Champs Elysées) who set the early fractions under Frankie Dettori, his favourite position!

Tarnawa went on to cross the winning line with a healthy three-length margin over her rivals..

Today, Tarnawa – a well-bred compact filly bursting with a devastating turn of foot –could easily have reminded us of a certain Zarkava, the second last winner of the Vermeille for HH The Aga Khan…

The French-trained favourite for the race, Raabihah (Sea The Stars) finished strongly and got the better of Dame Malliot in the battle for second place having been sat in the last place as the field turned into the home straight.

Mark Weld, assistant to his father Dermot Weld, trainer of Tarnawa (1st) :

« She is a marvellous filly. The Prix Vermeille is a very, very prestigious race and she needed to be good to win there. S.he has lots of speed and class and deserves a Group 1 win She was very impressive when winning a Group 2 au Curragh last year, just like last month in a Group 3 at Cork. We have a lot of hopes for her and she is very straightforward. The whole family have got better with age, particularly the females. She is a pleasure to train and we are very lucky to have her. I have just spoken to my father and we will have a look at the next step, she holds an entry in the Prix de l'Opéra (Groupe 1), and she is comfortable over 2.000m, so that's a possibility”

The filly therefore will not take part in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Christophe Soumillon, jockey of Tarnawa (1st) :

« When I saw Cristian taking back on the favourite early on I wasn't expecting that. He normally rides her quite offensively and I was planning on taking a lead off her. So I said to myself, that not to worry, I will take another position. Frankie Dettori stayed a long time out in the middle and when I saw that it was going to bunch up I spotted Pierre-Charles Boudot up ahead in third. So I wheeled out from behind Vincent Cheminaud and took a leadoff Pierre-Charles. He brought me along perfectly into the final few furlongs. After that I only had to ask her to go about her work, it's a pleasure to ride one like that in a good race, always in my hands. We have been waiting for that for a while and its great! For the Arc, we will need to sit down and have a talk, it's a hot race this year and it's certainly not the same level as today. It's the world championships, with 18 or 20 runners, things don't happen as easily as they did today. We will have to see. She is very nice and we will have fun for the remainder of the year”

Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Raabihah (2nd) :

“She ran well, but now she is against tougher rivals. She is changing category, she has proved that she is the best three-year-old filly in France. We will see how she is over the next two weeks, but if she is well in herself she will run in the Arc”

QATAR PRIX FOY

The Irish Anthony Van Dyck (Galileo) set out to make every post a winning one in the Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2). Sent straight to the lead, he went on to fend off all challengers up the home straight. The win meant that the Irish secured a perfect three from three in the preparation races for next month's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1).

His biggest rival, Stradivarius (Sea the Stars), was a persistent challenger. But for the long-distance specialist, today's 2.400m trip meant that he couldn't show his true quality.

Mickaël Barzalona, jockey of Anthony Van Dyck (1st) :

“We jumped off easily and I found myself in front, I left him to find a rhythm and let him go along bit by bit. I had a bit of trouble getting him to stretch out at the finish but once he sensed the attack of Stradivarius he pulled away again. I wasn't too worried because Stradivarius, as we see each time, makes up ground easily but sometimes gets caught for a bit of acceleration. He never comes in progression, getting a lead from the others. Turning in I gave him a breather before winding him up, I think my horse enjoyed that! In my opinion, he has every right to a place at the start of the Arc. He gets into a good rhythm and just keeps galloping in a straight and true line”

Bjorn Nielsen, owner and breeder of Stradivarius (1er) :

“ They have walked there and Frankie though he should have gone in front. The race has turned into a sprint and we were only beaten a neck. I don't know if he will run in the Arc, i need to speak with John Gosden but given how that race was run I wouldn't rule it out. The ground conditions on the day will not play a huge part, he goes better on good ground but can handle soft if needed”

Stradivarius could run in the Arc.

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Next Stop, Paris: Enable Cruises To Easy Victory In September Stakes

Juddmonte's superstar racemare Enable made it look easy in the G3 September Stakes on Saturday at Kempton Park, cruising to victory under regular rider Frankie Dettori. It was her final prep for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which the 6-year-old daughter of Nathaniel will try to become the first horse in history to win the history race three times.

The John Gosden-trained Enable won the Arc in 2017 and 2018, but fell just short when second in 2019.

“All roads lead to Longchamp,” Dettori told racingpost.com. “We came here to do the job, she felt good and the dream is still alive.”

Enable has won 15 of her 18 lifetime starts, including the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf, and has earnings over US$14 million. The Arc is a “Win and You're In” for this year's Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland.

“What she's done already with all the races she's won is pretty extraordinary, so we'll just build it up one day at a time,” Gosden said. “Frankie was delighted with her. She's had a good blow, had a nice day out and got a bit of freshness off her.”

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