G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Kick-starting a new weekly Q&A series in TDN Europe, former champion trainer John Oxx, whose spellbinding career will forever be remembered through his masterful handling of Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Sinndar (Ire) (Grand Lodge) and Ridgewood Pearl (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), sat down with Brian Sheerin to talk all things racing and breeding. The dual Derby-winning trainer speaks about Epsom, how delighted he is that Sea The Stars has a top-notch miler in Baaeed and his life in retirement.   Brian Sheerin: There are few weeks in...

Marcel Weiss, trainer of the reigning Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), has provided an upbeat bulletin on the 5-year-old ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return to action at Baden-Baden on Sunday.  Torquator Tasso shocked the racing world by becoming the longest-priced winner in Arc history when returning a 72-1 chance in a race where he had Dermot Weld's globetrotting mare Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Irish Derby hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in behind.  The poster boy of German racing will return in the...

Juddmonte homebred Rail Link (GB) (Dansili {GB}--Docklands, by Theatrical {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2006, sustained a heart attack on Friday and died at Haras de Vains. He was 19. "Rail Link died on Friday [of] a heart attack," Adrien Delaroque of Haras de Vains told Jour de Gallop. "I bought him from Haras de Cercy two years ago. I was delighted to have him with me. He was an authentic champion." Raced exclusively at three, the Andre Fabre trainee broke his maiden in...

German Derby winner In Swoop (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Iota {Ger}, by Tiger Hill {Ire}), who was runner-up in the 2020 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, will stand under the Coolmore National Hunt banner in Ireland, the stud announced on Thursday. A fee will be announced later. "In Swoop is the 19th German Derby winner owned and bred by the Von Ullmann family who also bred and raced both his German Derby-winning sire and German Oaks-winning dam," said Coolmore's Joe Hernon who negotiated the purchase. "He's a striking horse from one...

Three-time Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), who won the G3 Ballyroan S. at Leopardstown on Aug. 5, will make her next start in the Sept. 11 G1 Irish Champion S. The winner of last year's G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix de l'Opera and the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, the chestnut has been in good order since her Ballyroan appearance. After the Irish Champion, the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 3 is His Highness The Aga Khan homebred's long-term goal. "A decision has been...

Shadwell group winners Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) are targetting the Oct. 3 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Sept. 5 G1 Prix du Moulin, respectively, Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold revealed on Monday. A 4-year-old filly, Raabihah was fifth in the 2020 Arc after taking the G3 Prix de Psyche last August and running second in the Sept. 13 G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. Prior to her victory in Sunday's G2 Prix de Pomone, the chestnut was second thrice as the...

German champion In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Iota {Ger}, by Tiger Hill {Ire}), a winner of the 2020 G1 Deutsches Derby, has been retired from racing with a tendon injury, Equidia reported on Monday. Stud plans are pending for the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee. The Gestut Schlenderhan colourbearer kicked off his career with a win at Lyon Parilly in May of his 3-year-old year and was third in the G2 Prix Greffulhe last June before his German Derby score. Second to Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris...

Former French champion jockey Olivier Peslier will ride multiple Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, her trainer David Menuisier announced on Tuesday. The regular rider of the bay is William Buick, who will most likely be aboard one of Godolphin's duo of Classic winners Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) or Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the ParisLongchamp cornerstone. "I think he is one of the best in the business," said Menuisier of the veteran Frenchman. "He...

After his victory in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on Saturday, Prince Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) exited the race well. A potential long-term goal for the bay is the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October. Successful in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at three for trainer John Gosden, who now trains with his son Thady, the 4-year-old colt saluted in the $20-million Saudi Cup on dirt in Riyadh on Feb. 20 before switching back to grass...

Champion and dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was scanned in foal to Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Juddmonte announced via Twitter on Monday. The 7-year-old was retired in October last year after ending her career with a sixth in the Arc earlier that month. She was covered by the fellow Juddmonte homebred just over two weeks ago. "Fifteen days after cover, champion Enable was this morning successfully scanned in foal to Kingman," Juddmonte tweeted. "Hopefully an exciting new chapter in this remarkable mare's...

The John Gosden-trained, Prince Faisal homebred Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) stole the show in Saturday's $20-million Saudi Cup. Gary King caught up with Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince Faisal, on Monday morning to reflect on the win. GK: Prince Faisal has enjoyed incredible success in the bloodstock world over the years, which includes breeding and racing Invincible Spirit (Ire). Where does this victory rank? TV: I think being on his home dirt, as it were, I would have to say Mishriff has made Prince Faisal a very proud...

When Ettore Sottsass was asked which of his many diverse achievements had given him most satisfaction, he gave a shrug. "I don't know," he said. "Life is a permanent project. It's a passage from one thing to another." The Italian designer and architect transcended disciplines in a fashion not dissimilar to his compatriot Federico Tesio, whose singular genius was as stimulated by his furniture workshop as by his breed-shaping stud farm. And there's a corresponding breadth of engagement to the man who wrote to the widow of Sottsass, asking permission...