Last weekend saw the trials for next month’s Arc run at ParisLongchamp – the €5 000 000 championship race of Europe run over 2400m.
The Arc trials had their share of disappointments with Epsom Derby and King George VI winner Adayar absent due to a minor setback and the group one winning mare Wonderful Tonight suffering a career-ending injury in the leadup to her run in the Prix Foy.
The Gr2 Qatar Prix Niel for three-year-old colts started controversially with the late withdrawal of the Aidan O’Brien trained favourite Bolshoi Ballet due to a technicality over the date of his latest vaccine.
William Buick claims the Cazoo St Leger Stakes Victory – next up The Arc (Pic- Doncaster Racecourse)
A huge shock was what followed just over an hour later in the Gr1 Prix Vermeille for three-year-old fillies. The then Arc favourite and Epsom Oaks heroine Snowfall was turned over at 1/5 by Teona, who was ridden close to the pace by the superb Olivier Peslier. A lack of speed in the race (by the favourite’s stablemate) has been touted as the cause of this result, but winning trainer Roger Varian has always thought highly of the winning filly. So he nominated her for the Arc in April before her seasonal debut.
Later, there was a high-class performance from the Japanese colt Deep Bond in the older horses’ trial, the Gr2 Prix Foy. He made all the running to beat the reliable Ballydoyle trained Broome, who had himself made all to win the Gr1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June.
Japan’s main Arc hope is supposed to be the brilliant mare Chrono Genesis, a narrowly denied runner-up to Mishriff in Dubai earlier this year. Oisin Murphy has already been booked to ride her at Longchamp on the 3rd of October. However, Deep Bond’s high-class effort on his European debut means his Arc claims need to be taken a bit more seriously.
Hurricane Lane (Pic- Godolphin)
Godolphin’s Hurricane Lane was a dominant winner of the St Leger at Doncaster over the past weekend. It might not have been a vintage St Leger in terms of strength of depth, but the placed horses from the Derby had the best form on offer, and they duly finished first and second. Sent to the front by William Buick two furlongs out, he never looked in any danger and won by nearly three lengths.
A course and distance winner at Longchamp when winning the Gr1 Grand Prix de Paris by six lengths earlier this season, the big chestnut by Frankel provides trainer Charlie Appleby with a solid back-up to Adayar. If both Godolphin colts accept for the Arc, jockey William Buick’s choice will be of great interest.
The final part of the Arc puzzle was at Leopardstown last Saturday – the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes and what a thriller it was despite only four runners.
It certainly delivered with the three principals covered by less than a length at the line, although spread across the width of the track after winner St Mark’s Basilica carried the runner-up Tarnawa across to the stand rail. After lengthy deliberation, the stewards maintained the result, but the winning rider Ryan Moore received a ban for careless riding.
The Aidan O’Brien trained St Mark’s Basilica joined a select list of horses to have won 5 Group 1s in a row and will be a contender when next seen in action.
Tarnawa lost little in defeat, dropping down to 2000m on fast ground. With a return to a mile and a half in the Arc sure to suit and the likelihood of her getting her preferred softer ground, the five-year-old mare must be a leading light in Paris next month.
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