G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

There was a time when projecting the winner of the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was simple. Just look for the Andre Fabre-trained colt perfectly tuned for the ParisLongchamp monument and voila. Times change, of course, and the master of Chantilly no longer enjoys the same dominion over the great race he conquered on five occasions between his inaugural victory with Trempolino in 1987 and Sagamix (Fr) in 1998. Just a trio have managed to extend that tally subsequently, which interestingly features only two older horses. This year,...

Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a two-time winner at the highest level, leads the 16-strong G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe field by Timeform ratings at 125, the company announced on Friday. Trained by Joseph O'Brien, the 4-year-old is rated four pounds inferior to Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who finished second to Al Riffa's third behind City Of Troy in the G1 Eclipse earlier this season. Another rated higher is Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), who is two pounds above the G1 National Stakes and G1...

The likely Ballydoyle runners for Arc weekend, led by G1 Irish Derby hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), were unveiled by Aidan O'Brien on Tuesday. Fourth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, Los Angeles is one of two probable runners for O'Brien in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he will be joined by 2023 G1 St Leger hero and G2 Prix Foy third Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). "We think the most likely two are Los Angeles and Continuous," he said. "We think the ground probably isn't...

Andre Fabre has issued a positive bulletin on his pair of contenders as he seeks a record-extending ninth win in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 6. Fabre is responsible for the ante-post favourite in the shape of the three-year-old Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has won his last two starts over the Arc course and distance, first making the breakthrough at the top level in the Grand Prix de Paris in July and then returning from 10 weeks off with a...

   Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr), has been given a rating of 123 by Timeform. Third in Saturday's G1 Irish Champion Stakes, the Yoshito Yahagi runner was formerly rated 114. The race report by the publication read, "Shin Emperor, placed in the Japanese Derby when last seen in May, ran really well on his first start in Europe, finishing one place better than his full-brother, Sottsass, had in this race in 2022, and it would be no surprise...

Japanese raider Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is on course to attempt an ambitious Group 1 double in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after coming through a racecourse gallop at Longchamp on Sunday morning. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, whose many international successes include a Breeders' Cup double in 2021, Shin Emperor was last seen in competitive action when finishing third in the G1 Japanese Derby in May. He arrived in Chantilly towards the end of last month and has slowly been building up his...

SAPPORO, Japan -- While other racing nations are becoming accustomed to lauding the overseas success of Japanese runners and looking on with awe at the huge financial clout of the country's domestic racing programme, it would be folly to think that Japan's racing scene does not face its own specific issues. Indeed, the host nation for the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) was put under the spotlight in Sapporo on Thursday when leading trainer Yoshito Yahagi and breeder Kenichiro Mishima took to the stage to discuss ways in which Japanese...

Classic winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is pleasing connections ahead of a run in next Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. The G1 Irish Oaks heroine is one of 18 still left in the York showpiece. A winner at two from a pair of starts, the Valmont and Newsells Park Stud runner won the Listed Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield on May 11. Fourth-place efforts in the G1 Oaks at Epsom and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot followed. The...

Legendary Japanese reinsman Yutaka Take will be aboard Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, according to Japan's NetKeiba publication. Now owned by Masaaki Matsushima and the Al Riffa Syndicate, the 4-year-old colt claimed the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten in their colours on Aug. 11. Take will be making his 11th attempt in the storied contest, and first since Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in 2022. Matsushima was also involved in the ownership of the latter. "I received an...

Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will race for the Al Riffa Syndicate and Masaaki Matsushima beginning in Sunday's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin. The Joseph O'Brien trainee's long-term goal remains the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Matsushima has already enjoyed some success in Europe as the part-owner of G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The 4-year-old won the G1 National Stakes at two, and added runner-up finishes in both the G3 International S. and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. Fourth in the...

Equibase has added entries from France to the list of countries available within the international section of their website, the organization said in a release Wednesday. All international entry information, including the newly added French entries at Equibase.com are also available on their app. Final entries from France will include data from all of the country's major race courses, including ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, Oct. 1. "Horse racing is a global sport and we are excited to be able to make French entries available to...

The undefeated G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favourite Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) is pleasing trainer Jean-Claude Rouget ahead of the big day on Sunday. He is one of 16 on the radar for the ParisLongchamp showpiece after Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire})'s defection at the latest forfeit stage on Tuesday. A colourbearer for Gousserie Racing and Ecuries Serge Stempniak, the five-for-five G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero ran out a three-quarter length winner of the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano when last seen in August. "Why shouldn't I be...