And that’s it for another year from the highlight of the European Flat racing season. Chantilly were wonderful hosts for the last two runnings but it’s back to Longchamp next year. Will Enable return to bid for back-to-back victories? Trainer John Gosden was certainly hoping so in the immediate aftermath of the race when he spoke to ITV Racing.
"There is be every reason to keep Enable in training, especially with Longchamp reopening .. to win the Arc again" John Gosden on @itvracing
— Tony Paley (@tonypaley) October 1, 2017
Aclaim provided trainer Martyn Meade with the first Group One success of his career with victory in the Qatar Prix de la Foret.
An emotional Meade said: “He’s a tough little horse. He tries so hard that he reduces me to tears. He comes to his best form at this time of year. Winning a Group One was something we had to do this year and now we’ve done it.
“My immediate reaction is not to run him again this year. He’s won a Group One and it’s job done. I’m not sure if he stays in training next year. He’s a real warrior.” PA
Frankie Dettori Arc gallery
Prix de la Foret (5.15)
They are all in the stalls and they’re off ... Brando a bit slow and Karar leads ... Attendu is prominent ... Zelzal picks up on wide outside and Aclaim also challenges last to hold on for victory ...
Updated
Frankie Dettori holds court after the Arc ...
.@FrankieDettori on winning the Arc for an unprecedented fifth time #QPAT pic.twitter.com/BPxrM97vXR
— PA Racing (@PAracing) October 1, 2017
Prix de l'Abbaye (4.35)
This will be over very quick so expect a brief description ... they are loading the stalls with the 13 runners ... not many in the field this year ... and ... they’re off ... Der Graue leads early ... Battassh leads now with Marsha trying to challenge ... Battaash goes further clear for an easy win from Marsha ...
Sir Mark Prescott's Marsha in the parade ring before trying to win back-to-back Abbayes at #Chantilly this afternoon pic.twitter.com/CaRSBUsx2x
— Neil Clark (@MightyMagyar) October 1, 2017
Updated
Oli Bell of ITV Racing is in a hurry ...
Lost in France pic.twitter.com/2rM31QueNQ
— Richard Hoiles (@RichardHoiles) October 1, 2017
Rhododendron saw off stablemate Hydrangea to claim top honours in the Longines-sponsored Prix de l’Opera.
Ryan Moore sided with Hydrangea following her narrow victory over another Ballydoyle inmate Winter in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
Rhododendron, ridden by Seamie Heffernan, had finished second in the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks earlier in the year, but had disappointed on her two most recent outings.
Aidan O’Brien’s pair were never too far off the pace being set by John Gosden’s The Black Princess and after fighting their way to the front in the final furlong, it was Rhododendron who claimed a narrow verdict.
O’Brien said: “We’ve just been talking, me and Michael [Tabor, part-owner], about sending her [Rhododendron] to the USA for the [Breeders’ Cup)]Filly & Mare Turf. I think that will be the plan.
“She had a bad day the last time she came here [pulled up], which stopped her for six weeks, and the lads did a great job to get her back.
“She’s all class and we thought she would win the Oaks, only for her to run into Enable at Epsom.
“I’m delighted with Hydrangea and there’s a good chance that she could also go for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare.” PA
Updated
Prix de l'Opera (3.50)
They will be off soon ... and they’re off ... The Black Princess leads early ... with Hydrangea in second ... a length or so behind ... Rhododendron challenges Hydrangea and holds her off after a long battle up the home straight.
Updated
Five other great Arc-winning fillies
CORONATION V (1949)
Owned and bred by Marcel Boussac, she was a classy juvenile filly, winning the Queen Mary and Prix Robert-Papin. After dead-heating with her Charles Semblant-trained stablemate Galgala in the French 1000 Guineas, Coronation V was second in both the English and Irish Oaks after not travelling well before producing a career-best performance to win the Arc by four lengths.
ALLEZ FRANCE (1974)
The darling of French fillies, the aptly-named Allez France took Europe’s premier middle-distance prize to register her 10th win from 14 starts and go through her four-year-old season unbeaten with five victories. Though she only won by a head, Angel Penna’s filly had the race sewn up over two furlongs out after showing a devastating burst of speed that took her into a commanding lead sooner than jockey Yves Saint-Martin wanted.
ZARKAVA (2008)
The Aga Khan-owned star was sent off 13-8 favourite for the Arc on the back of winning all her six previous starts, including the French 1000 Guineas, French Oaks and Prix Vermeille. She did not let her supporters down as Christophe Soumillon took her to the front just inside the final furlong to end her career with a magnificent seven out of seven, defeating Youmzain by two lengths.
DANEDREAM (2011)
The German-trained filly may have sprung a 20-1 surprise in 2011, but it was no fluke as Peter Schiergen’s charge bolted up by five lengths from 15 rivals that included Snow Fairy and So You Think. She had won two Group Ones in her native country in the build-up to the Arc and maintained her form as a four-year-old by beating Nathaniel in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
TREVE (2013 and 2014)
One of just seven dual winners of the Arc, Treve came to life at Longchamp in the autumn. Handled with care by Criquette Head-Maarek, the daughter of Motivator was particularly impressive in 2013 as she stormed home by five lengths. Though she failed to win all her three previous starts before defending her crown a year later, she stepped up to the plate to win easily. Her bid for an unprecedented hat-trick in 2015 ended with a valiant fourth behind Golden Horn.
PA
Enable sails to smooth victory in the Arc
Enable capped a memorable season with a scintillating display in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.
John Gosden’s brilliant filly lined up as the hot favourite for Europe’s premier middle-distance contest after four consecutive victories at the top-level in the Epsom Oaks, the Irish Oaks, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.
The three-year-old made a fast start from stall two and Frankie Dettori always had her well positioned in behind Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Idaho and Order Of St George.
The popular Italian gave Enable her head racing inside the final two furlongs and she quickly stamped her class, quickening clear in stunning fashion to seal a dominant success.
Dettori, winning the Arc for an unprecedented fifth time, said: “I was very confident all week ... she is a tremendous filly.” PA
Bullseye! @FrankieDettori pic.twitter.com/TflfLNRkIL
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 1, 2017
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05)
The long build-up is over ... the horses are being led into the stalls ... Brametot, normally hesitant has gone straight in ... They’re off ... Capri was ridden along early ... and Idaho is prominent along with favourite Enable ... Ulysses is close up and that’s significant ... Zarak is at the rear with Seventh Heaven ... Idaho leads with Order of St George and Enable close up behind ... Enable travels very well at the turn for home ... Enable poised to challenge and goes ... Enable powers clear for an easy win from Cloth of Stars with Ulysses in third.
Updated
The Arc de Triomphe is now about 20 minutes away and they bet: 11-10 Enable, 9-1 Order Of St George, 10-1 Winter, 11-1 Ulysses, 14-1 Dschingis Secret, 20-1 Bramelot, Capri, 28-1 Cloth Of Stars, 33-1 Idaho, Zarak, 40-1 Santono Diamond, 50-1 Seventh Heaven, 80-1 One Foot In Heaven, 100-1 bar.
The moment of truth - Enable is saddled by trainer John Gosden shortly before the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe pic.twitter.com/6UPtmnRSZU
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 1, 2017
Happily won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere and winning jockey Ryan Moore said: “She was already a Group One winner over seven furlongs, so we were confident she would get the trip well. We started racing a long way from home and she showed a great will to win. For a filly to beat the colts is a good thing for the future.”
RaceBets cut Happily to 5-1 from 8-1 for next year’s 1,000 Guineas and 6-1 from 10-1 for the Investec Oaks.
Paddy Power make Happily their 9-2 second-favourite for the Guineas behind stablemate Clemmie - winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday - at 3-1. Clemmie is likely to go to the Breeders’ Cup next with Happily and Magical probaly set for the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.
O’Brien said: “It was the lads who decided to run her against the colts, so it was a brave call. She’s a tough, hardy filly and is a sister to Gleneagles. Ryan gave her brilliant ride. The fillies’ allowance wasn’t a disadvantage and she won well on the line.”
In post-Lagadere presser Aidan O'Brien suggests Fillies' Mile at @NewmarketRace more likely for Happily and Magical than @BreedersCup.
— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) October 1, 2017
Updated
The tactics employed by the Aidan O’Brien squad of five runners in the Arc will be vital. O’Brien just told Oli Bell on ITV: “The lads [jockeys not owners this time] will decide themselves as the race goes along.” There’s been a lot of discussion about the use of pacemakers since O’Brien’s The Anvil’s extraordinary front-running display in the St Leger last month. There may be a change in the rules of the sport in the offing as a result. This one will run and run.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien giving very little away to @olibellracing ahead of the Prix De l'Arc De Triomphe - Watch the action unfold on @ITV pic.twitter.com/D4Ga8r8jQd
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 1, 2017
Updated
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.45)
Happily is now into 6-5 clear favourite. Aidan O’Brien’s filly is being well backed as the runners go into the stalls ... Olmedo leads early but Mythical Magic has quickly overtaken here and makes the running ... Stablemate Masar is second with Happily in fifth spot on the turn for home ... Masar has the lead but Olmedo is fighting back and Happily comes with a strong, late run to win by over a length.
Updated
The runners are heading to post for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. They bet: 5-4 Happily, 7-2 Masar, 4-1 Olmedo, 7-1 Mythical Magic, 14-1 Francisco Bere and 25-1 Woodmax.
James Doyle, who won the Prix Marcel Boussac on Wild Illusion, reported afterwards: “We had to supplement her and that was Charlie’s doing - he was very confident today. She’s a relentless galloper and I think having been round here before stood her in good stead.”
Trainer Charlie Appleby was winning the race for the second successive year following the victory of Wuheida 12 months ago.
“I’m delighted. The improvement that she’d shown since her last run was enough to justify supplementing her,” said the Newmarket-based trainer. “I spoke to His Highness [Sheikh Mohammed] in depth about it and he said if we were happy with the horse we should go for it.
“We were delighted with her at home and we put the cheekpieces on, just because we felt going up to this level we wanted to keep her concentration up, nothing more than that. You could see there she’s as genuine as the day is long.
“She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree and we’ll put her away for the winter now. We can live the dream until next spring. I’m sure she’ll be in the reckoning for the 1000 Guineas, but on the basis of that, she’s a relentless galloper and staying is going to be her thing.” PA
There has been a lot of talk about changes in the betting landscape lately and while doing some research for the Arc I came across some information which seemed surprising to me, but significant if true. The people at bet-bonuscode.co.uk state that in the last 12 months bookmakers have experienced a significant increase in female punters with a quarter of all bets are now placed by women. Apparently, women bet predominately on horse racing and one-off events such as the recent Mayweather v McGregor fight. Going racing is clearly attractive for women, witness the popularity of ‘Ladies’ Days’ aimed at the female sector, but the sport could tap into a new burgeoning market if the statistical analysis is correct.
Updated
Prix Marcel Boussac (1.10)
And they’re off ... Zonza is the last one in ... Polydream is slowest away ... Soustraction leads with Wild Illusion second ... Zonza now the back market at halfway ... Wild Illusion makes her challenge ... Wild Illusion leads with Magical trying to close and Polydream coming late ... Wild Illusion has won, with over a length and a half to spare.
Updated
Polydream (11-8) and Magical (6-4) head the betting as the field go down to the start for the Prix Marcel Boussac... it’s 8-1 Soustraction; 10-1 Missian Impassible and Narella; 14-1 Zonza and 16-1 Wild Illusion.
Updated
The first race of the day, the Prix Marcel Boussac, is off in ten minutes. But before we turn to the afternoon action the ITV coverage has started and viewers will be a little perplexed at 2.20pm when the Arabian Race takes centre stage.
Polydream leaving the paddock before the Prix Marcel Boussac, as the sun finally comes out at Chantilly!! pic.twitter.com/hf8qpEk2zI
— James Chidgey (@james_chidgey) October 1, 2017
It will be the highest profile a race of this kind has ever had — the sponsors Qatar have scheduled it thus. Commentator Mark Johnson, who is an expert in the Arabian Racing field, has told Racing UK viewers that Ebraz is his best bet of the day. Don’t say you haven’t been told.
The track at Chantilly will be key to the outcome of what looks a vintage Arc, on paper at least. Chantilly is a trickier track than Longchamp, where the race is normally run. The runners need to get a favourable position immediately on leaving the stalls as there is a quick left hand down before a long, sweeping turn to the right that leads to the straight.
Bon départ! Here's the sight Enable, Ulysses and their riders will see from stalls one and two in the Arc #QPAT pic.twitter.com/PgJdw9qvI3
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) October 1, 2017
You do not want to be slow in starting (are you listening Order Of St George, I’m looking at you) and you don’t want to be stranded out wide at the home bend with such a short straight. Ulysses, who needs to be held up for a late run, has a tricky draw in stall one to overcome for a start (geddit;).
Updated
You see what I mean about the Chantilly weather (and going) forecasts. Less than an hour after the clerk of the course confidently told us there would be no rain, it’s persisting it down! (The French have the chic raincoats ready of course ...)
L'acteur #GerardDarmon sur le red carpet du #QPAT 🐎@francegalop @fgchantilly @EpiqE @Equidia_Live #pr #vip #live #photocall #chantilly pic.twitter.com/fp4e3KBPVO
— ThomasDumont #PR#VIP (@ThomasDumontVIP) October 1, 2017
Tony Paley
Updated
The Aidan O’Brien team will no doubt walk the track en masse later but Ryan Moore (who had the pick of the stable’s five runners) and has opted for Winter is already out getting a feel of conditions out on the Chantilly turf.
Ryan Moore walks the @fgchantilly track alongside Yuga Kawada, who rides Satono Noblesse in the #QPAT pic.twitter.com/FPLVMqO6ST
— PA Racing (@PAracing) October 1, 2017
The ground is the single most important variable in horse racing and it will be crucial later. If the going is genuinely soft (squelchy) at Chantilly that will not be in favour of longtime ante-post second-favourite Ulysses and definitely bring the likes of Order Of St George (likes squelchy and stamina-sapping conditions) and other strong stayers into play.
#Chantilly #Arc pic.twitter.com/OquRSFSmal
— Sam Owens (@SamOwens_) October 1, 2017
It can be a mystery for backers mind you and the information from Chantilly has been mixed to say the least. There was going to be torrential rain and there hasn’t been. Nevertheless, the official going is soft. Matthieu Vincent, the clerk of the course, or the man entrusted with the care of the running surface, was just on the At The Races channel. He said: “There was a little bit of rain, about 0.25mm overnight, the ground is 3.6 [that’s a going-stick measurement via a penetrometer] or soft. It is fresh French ground. It’s going to be cloudy and windy but [there will be no more] rain.”
Updated
It’s all about Enable this afternoon. She will create history by becoming the first three-year-old filly trained in Ireland or Britain to win Europe’s premier race if she wins the Arc just after 3pm. The Aidan O’Brien battalions have just arrived (his horses regularly roll up to the track at the 11th hour) but Enable has been relaxing since she arrived at dawn on Saturday morning.
Enable arrived at Chantilly at 4am local time yesterday in good spirits. Team Gosden no concerns at all. #QPAT pic.twitter.com/qgysB2uEiJ
— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) October 1, 2017
Preamble
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe’s two-year sojourn at Chantilly concludes on Sunday afternoon, and no matter how smart, modern and sophisticated the new Longchamp might be, nothing could ever match the backdrop for Europe’s biggest horse race in the French equivalent of Newmarket, about 20 miles north-east of Paris.
The Arc belongs in Paris, of course, but the switch to Chantilly has worked very well for just about everyone, one obvious exception being the French training community.
The first Arc here 12 months ago resulted in Found leading home a 1-2-3 for Aidan O’Brien, and there is a real chance that no French-trained horse will make the frame in the second one either. The last Arc-winning colt trained in France, meanwhile, was Rail Link in 2006, so where have all their top-class mile-and-a-half male horses gone? Is it a knock-on effect of reducing the French Derby trip to 10 furlongs from 12? Questions will – or should - be asked if they are blown away again this afternoon.
Weather-wise, the news this morning is positive. A rapidly changing forecast for Arc day during the week, which initially suggested several millimetres of rain during the morning and early afternoon, and while the air feels damp, it is not actually raining. The day seems settled as dull, overcast and mainly dry, with any significant rain now not expected to arrive until the crowds are heading home this evening.
Moisture in the air on #Arc day at #Chantilly but dry night and day so far pic.twitter.com/TnC4UmNhPj
— Lee McKenzie (@McRaces) October 1, 2017
There are no reported non-runners as yet on the card, which is either six or seven races depending on whether you count the contest for pure-bred Arabians at 2.20pm, which will be the first event of its type to be broadcast by ITV Racing. It’s there at the centre of the card to keep the Qatari sponsors happy, but they must be scratching their heads at ITV having paid good money for the coverage, as three of the six Group One races on the card will not make it into their schedule.
Enable has drifted a little in the Arc betting this morning and can be backed as 11-10 with several firms, but it is now 10-1 bar the favourite – the price on offer about both Order Of St George and Winter – while Ulysses, the second-favourite yesterday, is out to 11-1. Dschingis Secret, my each-way fancy against the favourite, is a 16-1 chance and Brametot, the first French-trained runner in the betting, is no less than a 20-1 chance.
Away from the Arc, this could also be a vital afternoon if Aidan O’Brien is to overhaul Bobby Frankel’s all-time record of 25 Group or Grade One winners in a season. O’Brien had a Group One double at Newmarket yesterday and has now reached 20 for the year so he could, in theory, equal the record this afternoon, when he has runners in five of the six Group Ones.
O’Brien’s decision to send the filly Happily up against the colts in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere could prove to be a masterstroke in that respect. She is currently favourite with the bookies to beat five opponents, while her stable companion Magical is joint-favourite for the fillies-only Marcel Boussac, which opens the card at 1.10pm.
Even with 20 Group Ones on the board already, O’Brien is still only just a shade of odds-on, at around 4-5, to get to 26, but three or more this afternoon would surely see the price crash to long odds-on.
Updated
