G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

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...

The St Leger winner Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) remains on course to attempt an historic follow-up in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next Sunday. The colt, who also won the G2 Great Voltigeur S. on good to firm ground at York en route to his Classic triumph in much softer conditions, would need to be supplemented for the Arc on Wednesday at a cost of €120,000. Speaking on Sunday afternoon, his trainer Aidan O'Brien told TDN, "The plan is for him to run in the Arc...

The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in November is likely on the agenda for Classic winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed on Sunday. The Coolmore and Westerberg colorbearer earned a trip to California with his triumph in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying event for the 1 1/2-mile GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. "The lads love the Breeders' Cup and he's a lovely horse for it," O'Brien said. "They will decide, but he'd love that ground. He's...

Kingman (GB)'s Group 1 winner Feed The Flame (GB) will prepare for a start in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in September's G2 Prix Niel, according to trainer Pascal Bary. All three of the colt's wins have come at ParisLongchamp, with a winning April debut parlayed into another victory in a Class 2 affair later that month. The 'TDN Rising Star' ran fourth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in June, prior to bouncing back in the Grand Prix du Paris on Bastille Day. "Tres bien, he...

The G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club conqueror Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) will head straight to the Oct. 1 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe following his recent victory in Deauville's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. Conditioned by Jean-Claude Rouget, the undefeated colt gave Rouget back-to-back Group 1 wins this season and will aim to become the trainer's second victor in Europe's richest middle-distance contest behind multiple Group 1-winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). A long-circled date on the calendar for the connections, the team is reportedly happy with Ace Impact's...

Last year's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is poised to head directly to France where he'll get a second chance at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 12 months after running sixth in last year's renewal over unsuitably testing ground. The Ralph Beckett-trainee is currently enjoying a break at his trainer's Kimpton Down base and the connections are keen to follow last year's route to the Bois de Boulogne--with a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup also in the planner following...

Michael Tabor, John and Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Derby hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is expected to make his next start in the July 2 G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh. "I would say he'll go to the Irish Derby," Tabor told racingtv.com. "I haven't discussed it, but it's common sense to say he definitely goes to the Irish Derby. Then we'll bring him back in trip--a mile and a quarter--for some of those races." The striking bay colt previously finished 12th in the May 6...

Entries for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, worth €5 million this year and set to be contested on Sunday, Oct. 1, close tomorrow, Wednesday May 10, at 10:30 a.m., France Galop announced. For this year's running, the Executive Board of France Galop decided to increase the maximum number of runners from 20 to 24. The change was made after last year when the 20-runner limit led to several being eliminated at the final declaration stage.

Group 1 winner and star import Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is set to have his first Australian start and first of 2023 in the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on Mar. 18 after being handed a wildcard entry for the race on Friday, Racing.com reported. The 5-year-old horse joined trainer Mike Moroney's stable in December, with the All-Star Mile always a target race for his Australian debut. Alenquer, who was previously trained by William Haggas, hasn't started since a ninth-place finish in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at...

Breeding rights in young stallions Profitable (Ire) and Cloth Of Stars (Ire) will go under the hammer at Goffs Online during their February Sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10. Standing at Kildangan Stud for €9,000, Profitable, winner of the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, is the only stallion with multiple sprinting group winners from his 3-year-old crop. After siring the G2 Queen Mary S. winner in his freshman year, he covered 116 mares last season. With a stud fee of €7,000 at Haras...

There can have been no finer example of reward for effort than the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory of Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Not only for the mare herself, slogging through the Longchamp mud with five Group 1 wins already to her name, but for her trainer Sir Mark Prescott and owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing, who have collectively a century of experience in this great sport between them. Then there was her jockey, Luke Morris. Not the most fashionable member of the British weighing-room, but certainly the most worthy, for...

First job in the Thoroughbred industry? Pupil Assistant to Ian Williams. Biggest influence on your career? I've been lucky to get guidance and advice from many great people, Ian gave me a great chance at the start. More recently Joe Osborne and David Redvers have been great influences in different ways and I have to mention my colleague Nick Craven at Weatherbys. My family has also been very supportive of me working in racing. Favourite racehorse of all time, and why? Sea The Stars really was a huge favourite of...