Chantilly's undisputed master trainer Andre Fabre was holding court on Friday as he pondered his three-pronged challenge for an eighth G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. When it comes to preparing a Thoroughbred for this particular peak, his knowledge has no equal and it is 'TDN Rising Star' Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) who looks the strongest of his high-achieving trio made up of Godolphin's Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d'Oro). Waldgeist brings German influence to the race, with Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park's chestnut naturally evolving from some of the finest of that country's revered bloodstock. Trialling in an ideal manner as he took apart his stablemates in the G2 Prix Foy three weeks ago, he looks a colt back on the rise with his formative period already suggesting he was made of the right material.
Successful in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile and runner-up in last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club, Waldgeist went off the boil after last summer and managed to get beaten by the exposed Danehill Kodiac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) on this weekend in Ascot's G3 Cumberland Lodge S. However, his sequence of wins in 2018 in the May 6 G3 Prix d'Hedouville, June 3 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and July 1 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud have placed him back into pole position and Fabre has a quietly confident air.
“He's improved this year, but he also showed top form as a 3-year-old. He could have won the Prix du Jockey Club and he ran well [when fourth] in the Irish Derby, in which he picked up a back injury,” he explained. “I don't think the ground is a problem, it was quick when he won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud–he acts on any sort of ground. However, it is like playing Barcelona, taking on Enable. Barcelona do get beaten, but it's like combining them with Manchester City having to take on Enable, Prince Khalid, John Gosden and the Messi–Frankie Dettori.”
Since 1990, there have been 20 3-year-olds proving successful with the remainder consisting of seven 4-year-olds and a sole 5-year-old. There are just three runners older than four in this renewal and two of them are the 5-year-olds Cloth of Stars, who is bidding to regain the form that saw him runner-up 12 months ago, and the GI Breeders' Cup Turf title-holder Talismanic.
Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said of them, “I think Monsieur Fabre knows what an Arc winner looks like and we have full confidence in him. Andre Fabre, in common with Sheikh Mohammed, loves a challenge, and he earmarked the Arc as the target for Talismanic at the beginning of the New Year. The performances of Cloth of Stars this year haven't been on a par with his 2017 season. Last year, he delivered three exceptional performances, having twice lowered the course record at Saint-Cloud and running a blinder in the Arc–a race in which he gave his all. He gave of himself 100% on each occasion. He has been unlucky this year, and things haven't gone his way, but he has more to prove this year than last season. Monsieur Fabre has been giving him special attention since the summer so as to ensure that he is mentally in the right place for the task which awaits him on Sunday. After the Prix Foy, he told me he thought the horse would be going into Sunday's race in the same condition as last year.”
Day in the Sun?
Prior to the weekend's all-consuming climax, Saturday's racing is significant in its own right with the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. taking centre stage at Newmarket. John Dance's luminary Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) looks to supplement her admirable tally, having beaten the stricken Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in Leopardstown's G1 Matron S. on Sept. 15. Re-opposed by that race's third Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), she will again wear her heart on her sleeve as she bids to outgrind nine opponents.
“It's another tough race, but she's more than entitled to be there,” trainer Karl Burke said of the resilient bay whose two efforts here resulted in a win in the G1 Fillies' Mile last term and a second in the G1 1000 Guineas May 6. “She seems in great form. She came back from Leopardstown well, the couple of bits of work she's done since the Matron have been good so there's nothing to suggest the season is catching is up with her. Having a horse of mine bidding for a fifth Group 1 is not a position I really thought about at the start of my career. It's fantastic to finally be getting hold of this sort of horse and I just hope it continues.”
Derrick Smith's silks are sported by the Andre Fabre-trained Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who built on a convincing success in Deauville's G3 Prix de Lieurey on Aug. 15 when second to Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sept. 9. In a race which has traditionally favoured French runners, with five of the last nine being trained there, the hold-up merchant Wind Chimes is worthy of maximum respect.
“It's obviously a tough race, but she will run well, I'm sure of that,” the Chantilly handler said. “She showed form against the colts last time out, that gives us hope that she is well up to running a big race. As for the ground, she acts very well on soft ground, but she also has some top-class form on good ground as well, so it shouldn't be an issue for her. On all known form we can't beat Laurens, but she did get beaten at Newmarket in the Guineas, so we'll see.”
'TDN Rising Star' Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is one of the freshest in the line-up, having followed third placings in the June 22 G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot and Aug. 2 G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood with a win in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown on Sept. 1.
Chris Richardson, managing director for owner-breeders Cheveley Park Stud, said, “She came out of her last race well and she's in good form. There should be plenty of pace on, so we'll roll the dice and see what happens. I think we're of the opinion that next year she'll fully blossom, all being well.”
Going the Distance….
Contrasting Group 1 fayre is on offer at ParisLongchamp, where the Qatar Prix du Cadran, or “French Gold Cup”, represents two-and-a-half miles of guesswork. Going further than he ever has, the domestic favourite Holdthasigreen (Fr) (Hold That Tiger) at least has form in this kind of territory as he mastered the reliable yardstick Marmelo (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the 15-furlong G2 Prix Kergorlay at Deauville Aug. 19. Freddy Head offers food for thought as he throws George Strawbridge's Aug. 24 Deauville conditions scorer Call the Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) into the mix, but the homebred has no form over marathon trips, is a half-brother to the speedier Dansili pair of With You (GB) and We Are (Ire) and he has no black-type experience.
Future Cadran prospects potentially offer more interest in the G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay, where Charlie Appleby brings the unbeaten G2 Prix Niel winner Brundtland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) back three weeks after taking that traditional Arc trial. “He's not exciting to watch, but he gets the job done and he's done everything that's been asked of him so far,” his trainer said. “The step up in trip will help him and I'd say he's probably our best chance of the weekend.”
Nine for a Dollar…
Arguably one of the day's most intriguing runners surfaces in the G2 Qatar Prix Dollar as Neil Jones's impressive Aug. 15 G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano scorer Knight To Behold (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) looks to continue to build self-esteem after two fruitless Derby encounters. “We were delighted with his run back over 10 furlongs at Deauville and the Prix Dollar has been a target for a while,” trainer Harry Dunlop commented. “He seems in good form and it's great that Oisin [Murphy] is available to ride him as he knows the horse well.”
Charlie Appleby shortens up Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) after he was 10th in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster Sept. 15 and the Aug. 26 G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner will be more at home over this trip. “Loxley blatantly didn't stay in the St Leger and has produced some decent performances over shorter distances this season, so we are not concerned about coming down in trip,” he said. “He has taken the race at Doncaster well and, if he brings his best form to the table, will be a serious contender.”
Plumatic Eyes Wildenstein Crown…
With Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Apr. 27 G2 Sandown Mile winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) unlikely to get his favoured easy ground, the G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein is at the mercy of the Wertheimers' Plumatic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Successful in the G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury Aug. 16 and fourth in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp here Sept. 9, the 'TDN Rising Star' has the edge over his rivals on that form but again Charlie Appleby threatens to have a say with Sheikha Al Jalila Racing's Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). He beat the smart Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Deauville's G3 Prix Daphnis on Aug. 21 and could be ready to grow into his 2.6-million yearling price tag.
“We targeted this race for Glorious Journey following his victory in the Prix Daphnis and he has freshened up well,” Appleby said. “He seems to enjoy spacing out his runs and both the ground and trip should suit. Hopefully, his confidence should be up after winning last time out and he goes into this race with a live chance.”
One of the most disappointing turnouts for one of ParisLongchamp's supporting races is that of the G2 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, where Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Aug. 19 G2 Prix de Pomone runner-up Palombe (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is another live Fabre contender on the day.
Limato's Connections Hoping Rain Holds Off…
Ascot's card features the G3 Stella Artois Cumberland Lodge S., where Khalid Abdullah's progressive handicapper First Eleven (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a son of Zenda (GB) (Zamindar), takes part in his second pattern race having disappointed when fifth in the G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket July 12.
Paul Jacobs's class act Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) is engaged in the G3 John Guest Racing Bengough S., but any late downpour would see him scratched as he has been on several occasions in the past. “The main and very serious proviso is the weather forecast. Rain is due to come in tomorrow,” his owner said. “What will happen, as has on a number of occasions, is Henry [Candy] and I will get there and walk the course and decide what we do. If he did run and came out of it okay we've still got him in the [G1] Champions Sprint a fortnight later, but the weather then is even more uncertain. He's also in the [G2] Challenge S. which he won last year. If we have to swerve tomorrow because of the rain then that would be the next option. It's only next Friday and at this time of year we have to go where we get the ground.”
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