Time Ticking On Arc Extravaganza

Time passes and the clock is ticking. At a little after 4 p.m. on Sunday, racing's two-and-a-half minutes of truth will decide the future of the 19 participants in this year's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Longines horloge that accompanies the winning post at ParisLongchamp waits patiently for the latest hero or heroine of arguably Europe–and possibly the world's– greatest race. The Bois de Boulogne opens to receive an urban sea that will irrigate the newly revamped grandstands and walkways of the Routes Des Tribunes venue that has borne witness to some of the sport's key moments. Enable is the watchword, with ParisLongchamp having rid the course of the obstructive concrete grandstand pillars to offer an unrivalled 180-degree view to spectators. The filly of that name, Juddmonte's daughter of Nathaniel (Ire), is as smooth as the experience ParisLongchamp's official site would have you believe awaits you if you are attending on Sunday. The real question being asked is, what can stop her becoming the eighth dual winner of the Arc and the third of her sex to do so?

Any answer other than nothing is difficult to justify, but John Gosden is keeping understandably restrained. “The Arc is the Arc and you can be a short-priced favourite, but when those gates open it doesn't mean anything,” he said at Newmarket on Saturday. “It hasn't been a straightforward year, but it's been straightforward since she came back.”

Speaking of Urban Sea, “Mother Arc” herself is omnipresent once again in the lineage of several members of the congregation. Through her ground-breaking sons Galileo (Ire) and Sea the Stars (Ire), she has six in the line-up with the former represented by Waldgeist (GB), Kew Gardens (Ire), Capri (Ire) and Magical (Ire) and her 2009 Arc hero Sea the Stars providing Sea of Class (Ire) and Cloth of Stars (Ire). The chances are, if Enable reveals some unforeseen weakness, it will be one of these that capitalises. Galileo never had the chance to take part in this race for which he was so well-suited, but he was responsible for a still scarcely-believable one-two-three in 2016 and Enable's sire is one of his too. Sea the Stars has had just four runners in this so far, with Cloth of Stars second last year and his Classic-winning filly Taghrooda (GB) third in 2014 from stall 15. Sounds familiar? That is the post position that awaits his Sea of Class, only the third to carry the Tsui family silks in this race with the other two being Urban Sea herself and Sea the Stars. No pressure then.

When it comes to pressure, William Haggas has the temperament to deal with it. Since his baptism of fire courtesy of his Epsom Derby hero Shaamit (Ire) in 1996, his career has been marked by a slow process of maintaining momentum. One of racing's thinking class is now in a position to take a talent like Sea of Class all the way. Like Enable last year, she comes into this with the G1 Irish and Yorkshire Oaks against her name but unlike that powerhouse, she is all about dramatic acceleration. That wins Arcs. Look at her sire, at Dancing Brave, Suave Dancer, Peintre Celebre, Montjeu (Ire), Sakhee, Dalakhani (Ire), Bago (Fr), Zarkava (Fr) (Zamindar), Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Everything she did at York Aug. 23 suggested she was a rapidly-developing threat to the uncompromising Enable, but she will have to get by her great foe quicksmart and leave no opening for reply. Haggas's sole runner in this was Shaamit, who was seventh 22 years ago, and the Newmarket-based “shrewdie” was typically humble in discussion of his new stable star.

“Her owner, Mrs Tsui, has had two runners in the Arc–Urban Sea, who won, and the second was Sea the Stars, who also won, so she's got an unblemished record. Mine is very blemished, I've had one runner in the Arc, Shaamit, who got injured in the race, so I'd like to have another go and it's nice to go there with a chance,” he said. “We were very pleased with her at York, as we were at The Curragh, but obviously she's got bigger fish to fry now.”

From her outside post, Sea of Class–who is arguably the only true “quickener” in a renewal full of resolute gallopers–has to ride her luck but despite the annual debate about the draw bad fortune is not something that this race is renowned for. Very few of these go the way of the plain fortunate. Class almost always prevails. In this era the fillies hold sway, thanks to the turnpike created by Zarkava in 2008 which led to seven of the last 10 editions going to that sex. We have almost been thrown back to the time of the late seventies and early eighties, when the colts bowed to Three Troikas (Fr), Detroit (Fr), Gold River, Akiyda (GB) and All Along (Fr) for five consecutive years. “She has a change of speed and that is as crucial as anything in a horse race,” Haggas continued. “She was asked to do quite a lot at The Curragh in coming from where she did, but she managed it. After that, the next option against fillies was the Yorkshire Oaks against her elders and she was impressive again. Obviously, it is very competitive and my friend and rival up the Bury Road [John Gosden] has a great chance; he'd like lots of rain whereas I'd like none. There are also lots of other horses–the Arc is always a championship race.”

Despite no St Leger winner going on to victory here, nobody is telling Aidan O'Brien what can and cannot be achieved. As impressive as he was at Doncaster, Kew Gardens would be given short shrift were he handled anywhere else. Last year's winner of the oldest Classic, Capri, is also here. The locomotive of relentless achievement that characterises the second empire of Ballydoyle is set back in motion after some necessary remedial works during the summer. Despite the stable's well-documented lull, Kew Gardens stayed on course throughout the hard times and in doing so gained vital course-and-distance winning experience, having beaten off Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris. He also profits from Ryan Moore, whose iron resolve under the game's biggest pressure recalls the steel of Mick Kinane. Capri, whose sole outings since beating just one rival here 12 months ago involve a workmanlike win on his re-introduction in the G3 Alleged S. at Naas Apr. 13 and a fifth in the G2 Prix Foy here three weeks ago, is the mount of Donnacha O'Brien. This has been his year, with five Group 1 wins equalling Moore's European tally and two British Classic winners. Having recently passed the 100-winner mark in Ireland, confidence is no issue for the 20-year-old who also has an ideal draw on the largely forgotten grey. Aidan said of his Leger duo, “Everything has gone well since the Leger and we've been happy with Kew Gardens since. He seems to be in good form. We were training him for the King George in the middle of the summer and he just had a setback with the rest of the horses, so that's why he didn't get to go there. We thought that Capri would improve nicely from the last day and we've been happy with him since.”

There was a time when all that was required to stand a major chance of winning an Arc was to gear a star 3-year-old colt's campaign around the two peaks of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and this showcase. Since the distance of the Chantilly Classic was reduced by 300 metres in 2005, none have managed to go on to glory here so the Niarchos Family's Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has some strong trends to reverse. He also has a nightmare draw and comes in off two underwhelming efforts when third in the Aug. 15 G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville and fifth in Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. a month later. Trainer Pascal Bary, who went close with the old Jockey Club hero Sulamani (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) in this in 2002, still believes.

“Study of Man is very well and has come out of his Irish race in good order,” he said. “His fifth place is a little disappointing on the face of it, but seen in a wider context, it isn't that disappointing. He is going to race in a pair of blinkers–they're the same as those worn by Dream Well in the Prix du Jockey Club. They're very small, but should improve his concentration levels. The main aim is that he applies himself well to the task in hand. I think the best European performers are all present. We should get a truly-run race and, as often happens, the best horse on the day will win.”

The remainder of ParisLongchamp's card is a relative feast. The juveniles stand up to be counted in the opening G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere–both Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' qualifiers–and this year, more than any other, the home-trained members of that age group have struggled to assert themselves against the overseas challenge. The fact that they are outnumbered in both contests is a direct measure of that imbalance, but there is hope in either race provided chiefly by the unbeaten pair of Rocques (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) and Anodor (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) in the Marcel Boussac and Lagardere, respectively. Rocques, who races in the seemingly “lucky” Gerard Augustin-Normand silks and is owned in partnership with Ecurie du Gave and Alain Jathiere, recorded a smooth 3/4-of-a-length defeat of Godolphin's re-opposing Ceratonia (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G3 Prix d'Aumale over this course and distance Sept. 9. Ceratonia, one of two representatives of the operation which has taken the last two renewals, including with her half-sister Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), looks to have the edge over the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Dubai Beauty (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who was a disappointment when seventh in Doncaster's G2 May Hill S. over this trip last time Sept. 13.

“She's got a similar profile to her older half-sister, but they are slightly different types,” Charlie Appleby said comparing Ceratonia with the 2017 winner. “Wild Illusion wears cheek pieces, which definitely help her, whereas Ceratonia has worn a hood and we're taking it off this weekend. She's had the experience of going to Longchamp and she would appreciate some cut in the ground. We were happy with her last run, I think that experience will bring her on and hopefully she has a live chance.”

Saeed bin Suroor added of Dubai Beauty, who had impressed on her winning debut at Newmarket Aug. 4 before her May Hill flop, “We couldn't find any reason for her disappointing run, but she's in good form and we will send her back to the races and give her another chance.” Runner-up in the May Hill was Robert Barnett's Star Terms (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who found only Ballydoyle's Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) too strong there. As is the way, when one of those Rosegreen representatives gives way another comes forward in place and this time it is Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was off the mark at the third attempt by seven lengths on testing ground over this trip at Gowran Park Sept. 22. “She's progressed with every run and has been in good form since Gowran,” Aidan O'Brien said of the full-sister to Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). “We always liked her and she's had three runs now.”

In the Lagardere, Freddy Head is responsible for Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard's Anodor, whose two career starts have seen him comfortably beat 'TDN Rising Star' Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in a 7 1/2-furlong newcomers' event at Deauville Aug. 7 and record an equally fluent follow-up in the G3 Prix des Chenes over this track and trip Sept. 9. Visually impressive so far, Gerard Augustin-Normand and Middleham Park's unbeaten Boitron (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) faces his moment of truth after his first success of real substance in Newbury's Listed Washington Singer S. over seven furlongs Aug. 18. The Middleham Park syndicate's racing manager Tim Palin commented, “We hope he's high-class. We've circumvented Group 3s and Group 2s to pitch him in here and I think he deserves to be there. It was either come here or go to the Dewhurst and to be honest, the Dewhurst does look Too Darn Hot this year.”

Again, Godolphin's prospects are bright with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass) making a lasting impression when dominating from the front and beating the subsequent dual winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a seven-furlong Doncaster maiden Sept. 14. “It's a big jump up in class for him, but I think he has a lot of quality and we will see if he measures up,” commented bin Suroor.

Godolphin's presence on the afternoon is felt all over the ficture, with 'TDN Rising Star' Wild Illusion returning to the scene of her success in last year's Marcel Boussac as she tackles the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Had she stayed a mile and a half with more conviction, the homebred–who was also second in the June 1 G1 Epsom Oaks–would probably have been lining up with a solid chance in the main event here. A fresh filly having been absent since winning the G1 Nassau S. over this trip at Goodwood Aug. 2, trainer Charlie Appleby is in bullish mood. “She came out of Goodwood in great order and hopefully she goes to Paris with a great chance,” he said. “I think we saw at Goodwood that 10 furlongs is right up her street and I can't see any negatives, to be honest. With the way the weather is, we're quite relaxed. She has form on quick ground and slow ground, so we're not too worried either way.” Wild Illusion has to deal with some serious talent here, including her June 21 G2 Ribblesdale S. conqueror Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). That she is not yet a Group 1 winner seems purely a matter of circumstance and she was a just head away from achieving that landmark when runner-up to Kitesurf (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) under hold-up tactics in the 12-furlong G1 Prix Vermeille here last time Sept. 16.

“Magic Wand is in good form. She ran a very good race there in the Vermeille and we don't think the drop in trip will bother her,” Aidan O'Brien said.

Wild Illusion and Magic Wand face stern domestic opposition in the form of George Strawbridge's 'TDN Rising Star' With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a full-sister to We Are (Ire) who captured this for the same connections in 2014. Also a half to Saturday's G1 Prix du Cadran hero Call the Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}), she is cut from far speedier cloth as she proved when posting a career-best success over a mile in Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild July 29 prior to running third over that trip in the G1 Prix du Jacques le Marois a fortnight later. She had previously shown she stays this far when a short-head second to her immovable peer Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the May 27 G1 Prix Saint-Alary at this venue and will not need to find much to provide connections with a weekend Group 1 double. There are four other top-level scorers in the line-up, with the July 1 G1 Pretty Polly S. scorer Urban Fox (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) bidding to reverse Nassau form with Wild Illusion, having been runner-up on that occasion. The July 7 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. heroine Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is here, along with last year's winner and G1 Lockinge S. scorer Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but the latter has been violently up and down throughout her career and it is impossible to know what to expect from her at this juncture.

As the day wears on, the excitement hardly abates as Shadwell's fleet performer Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looks to repeat last year's heroics in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. Amazingly, despite all the stable's intense preparations he was below-par for no particular reason as he was in 2017 when fourth in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. last time Aug. 24. Connections are hoping he can find the same kind of progression in the interim as he did when scoring by four lengths 12 months ago. “I believe they're very happy with him going into the race,” the operation's racing manager Angus Gold said. “Obviously he's on a bit of a recovery mission after York, but it was the same last year and it didn't stop him then. If he's at his best, he's the one they've all got to beat, but you never quite know what to expect, which is part of the attraction with him.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum also has the Freddy Head-trained 3-year-old filly Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who has gatecrashed her way here via a supplementary entry following authoritative wins in the six-furlong G3 Prix de Meautry at Deauville Aug. 26 and the course-and-distance G3 Prix du Petit Couvert Sept. 16. In the latter contest, the homebred beat the June 23 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. runner-up City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and it will be intriguing how she races with Battaash as they are drawn five and six. “I've been surprised by how much speed she's shown as she's only a small filly,” Gold added of her. “We gave her a break during the summer and she's come back really well since. It might seem a bit strange to supplement her to take on our best horse, but Sheikh Hamdan was happy to do so in case Battaash doesn't fire.”

Bryan Smart seeks a rare double as he looks to the Nunthorpe hero Alpha Delphini (GB) (Captain Gerrard {Ire}) to emulate the Abbaye victory of his half-brother Tangerine Trees (GB) (Mind Games {GB}) in 2011. Just a nose separated the 7-year-old and Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the York burn-up, but Alpha Delphini is a true warrior suited to this kind of examination. “He was great at York, battled all the way to the line and stuck his nose out when he needed to,” Smart said. “To be perfectly honest, to go and win that was an absolute dream. [Jockey] Graham [Lee] came and rode him last week and was very happy. He's got to travel, which he's never done before, and he does get a little bit tense, so that's something we've got to overcome.” Mabs Cross's trainer Michael Dods is concerned about the filly's draw in 13 and said, “We'd have preferred to have been drawn a bit lower, but we are where we are and we'll try to make the best of it,” he commented. “She seems in great form. It's a tough race, but I'm very happy with her and hopefully she'll run well.”

The sixth and final Group 1 event of the day is the Qatar Prix de la Foret, where Freddy Head also has a strong contender in the Wertheimers' Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). She has thrived since reverting in trip, beating the Godolphin pair of Inns of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Jimmy Two Times (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the G3 Prix du Palais-Royal over this course and distance June 2 before upstaging James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 5. Both James Garfield and Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) ran well below expectations when also-rans in the Sept. 8 G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, but the former's trainer George Scott is hoping he can rebound. “James Garfield has been in tremendous form. He's been drawn in stall 11, which is a little higher than I would have liked, but it's certainly not the end of the world,” he said. “Frankie Dettori has a wonderful relationship with the horse and I'm looking forward to seeing him get back aboard. The easy seven furlongs of Longchamp should suit him well and I'm expecting a big run.” Sir Dancealot's Haydock flop arrested a spell of development at this trip, having annexed the G3 Criterion S. at Newmarket June 30, Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. at the end of July and G2 Hungerford S. at Newbury Aug. 18, but he is drawn widest of all in 16 whereas the Haydock Sprint Cup third Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will break from stall two in a race in which post position is crucial. The latter's trainer Aidan O'Brien said, “He's in good form. He's obviously going back up to seven furlongs, but we were delighted with his run the last day. We think he's still on the upgrade.”