Derby Winner Adayar’s Arc Bid Depends On Ground

Godolphin's Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Cazoo Derby and the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. in 2021, is likely to run in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2, as long as he gets his desired ground, trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed on Thursday. If the going is too deep, he will instead be pointed for the Oct. 15 G1 Champion S. at Ascot. Fourth in the ParisLongchamp test last year over the heavy going, the bay was then fifth in the G1 Champion S. on QIPCO British Champions Day. Planned runs at Royal Ascot, Sandown, and Ascot, did not come to fruition, and the bay made a successful return to the races in the Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Conditions S. over 10 furlongs at Doncaster on Sept. 8.

“It's most likely Adayar is going to work on Saturday and if we're happy with that work we will then leave him in the Arc on Monday and take a look at it then,” said Appleby.

“We'll keep an eye on the ground. We know what it can be like [at ParisLongchamp] and I don't want him to have to encounter what he went through last year.

“Admittedly the race wasn't run to suit us–we ended up on the lead where we didn't want to be–but it was very testing conditions and then we backed him up on Champions Day.

“The mindset is still Champions Day, but if the Arc comes up as being sensible ground, we know at this time of year you're going to have to go where the ground is because every day it can change.

“If I was going to say we'll wait for Champions Day and all of a sudden it's bottomless there, I'll be kicking myself that I've potentially missed an opportunity of running in the Arc on decent ground.”

Added Appleby, “He looks great. Everyone was very pleased with the manner in which he did it at Doncaster and he's come out of there thinking he's King Kong again, and that's what you need.

“He finished last season off with two gruelling races in the Arc and on Champions Day and it takes a lot for a horse sometimes to come back from it.

“He's got his mojo 110% now. He's back to how he was when he won the Derby, if not better.”

The trainer also provided an update on Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won three Group 1s in 2021 and was third in the Arc later that season. Third in the G2 Hardwicke S. on his 4-year-old bow, the chestnut has not graced a racecourse since an eighth-place finish in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on July 3.

“He's probably not going to be in the equation, to be honest,” Appleby added. “I feel for him in that we encountered quick ground during the summer. The first run [at Royal Ascot] we got away with it and on his second run we didn't think we'd get the conditions we unfortunately ran on in the end and it didn't help his cause.

“I backed right off him and what he's encountered hasn't helped us in preparation for an Arc.”

The post Derby Winner Adayar’s Arc Bid Depends On Ground appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Grosser Preis von Baden Next For ‘Tasso’ Before An Arc Defence

Last year's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victor Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), who ran a brave second in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S., returned to trainer Marcel Weiss's Mulheim base on Sunday afternoon. His trainer is targeting the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden on Sept. 4 for the chestnut, who will then return to ParisLongchamp to try for consecutive Arc victories on Oct. 2.

“He was very well and had no problems with the journey,” said part-owner Peter-Michael Endres. “It was no problem for him.

“Our thought now is to bring him to Baden-Baden for his next race [in September] and then to the Arc.

“It will be a similar route to last year. The only change was that he went to Ascot and that was the right decision.”

The 5-year-old entire opened his season with a surprising sixth in the G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft, but quickly bounced back to form with a 3 1/2-length score in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis at Hamberg on July 2.

Endres added, “I think he can go on this [quicker] ground–as we have seen. On softer ground, some of the other horses are not as good on it as he is.”

“The hospitality at Ascot was marvellous. It was a very good journey. We like to win, but to gain second place and also how he has done it, we are very happy about that.”

“When he won the Arc, people thought the horses he beat were not as good as they thought before,” added Endres. “Now you think nearly the best 3-year-olds had problems against older horses–and he is one of the best. So, we are looking forward to going back to the Arc.”

The post Grosser Preis von Baden Next For ‘Tasso’ Before An Arc Defence appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pyledriver Heads To The Arc Prior To Targets Farther Afield

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has emerged from his G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. victory in good order and will point towards the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2, according to co-trainer William Muir. After running second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December, the bay did not make an impact in Riyadh, and was an unlucky fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March. Wheeled back attempting a title defence of his G1 Coronation Cup crown, he finished second in June. Longer-term targets include the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf in November, as well as the Nov. 27 G1 Japan Cup or another visit to Hong Kong for the Longines Hong Kong International Races.

“The Breeders' Cup [Turf] is after the Arc, so basically the Arc is next on the agenda and once you've won that race, you have a free entry to the Japan Cup, same as the Breeders' Cup, same as Hong Kong,” said Muir. “We can't do them all. It is impossible to do everything.”

A firm decision on where the 5-year-old entire goes after France will be made by Muir, his co-trainer Chris Grassick, injured regular jockey Martin Dwyer, and Pyledriver's owners.

Muir said, “The three owners and me, and definitely Martin–even though he is not riding, he is a big part of this horse's journey–will decide where we go after the Arc. The Breeders' Cup is possible. We will have a meeting and discuss which way we go, but the Arc is next.”

Ridden by PJ McDonald on Saturday, Pyledriver pleased Muir on Sunday morning.

Muir added, “He is grand, really good this morning. He has come out of the race well, he is very happy. I was out with him about 5 a.m. this morning and he is fine.”

The post Pyledriver Heads To The Arc Prior To Targets Farther Afield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

France Galop And QREC Extend Arc Weekend Sponsorship Through 2027

France Galop and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) confirmed they have extended their sponsorship agreement of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend for five more years, from 2023-2027. Originally inked in 2008 for a five-year deal through 2012, an extension was agreed upon in 2010 through 2022's edition. Held from Friday, Sept. 30 (Saint-Cloud) and Saturday/Sunday Oct. 1-2 at ParisLongchamp, there will be 16 group races carded-eight Group 1s, three Group 2s, one Group 3 and another four top-level races dedicated to Arabians. Total prize-money on offer will be €10.4 million. The G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will have a purse of €5 million, while the G1 Qatar Arabian World Cup will carry €1 million in prize-money.

The post France Galop And QREC Extend Arc Weekend Sponsorship Through 2027 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights