The Shanghai Race Club

The wait is over and the hour is nearly upon us. On Sunday afternoon, there is only one place in the world to be and that place is Longchamp, Paris. Over 2400 metres of perfect French turf, we shall see which horse and owner will land the biggest prize in world turf horse racing, The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe.

The line up is formidable, both in terms of the horses and the superpowers of world horse racing who own them. We have last year’s Derby and Arc winner Workforce owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah; an exciting young french filly, Galikova owned by the Wertheimer brothers; Sarafina owned by His Royal Highness The Aga Khan; Meandre by the Rothschild Family – and that is before we mention the mighty So You Think – the ex-Australian powerhouse now trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by the Coolmore syndicate. It is the race that has everything and victory is almost impossible to put a price on..

Below, a run down of the contenders for the 2011 Arc – with Saddlecloth numbers.

01. Workforce – Owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Workforce is  last year’s Epsom Derby winner and the reigning Prix de L’Arc De Triomphe champion. Repeating the feat will not be easy, however, and Workforce will have to raise him game if he is to retain his crown

02. St Nicholas Abbey – represents Coolmore. Was a top class horse as a 2 year old, but hasn’t quite lived up to his big reputation subsequently. Still a talented horse and can run well, but would be a surprise winner.

03. Silver Pond – owned by Haras de Quesnay, Silver Pond was behind Sarafina at St Cloud earlier in the year and was well beaten last time. Would be a huge shock if he was good enough.

04. Hiruno D’Amour – Japanese raider owned by Masafumi Hirakawi. Won a prestigious 3200 metre race in Japan (the Grade 1 Tenno Sho) and ran a good trial race for the Arc when second to Sarafina in the Prix Foy. Needs to improve on that effort, but is an interesting outsider for the race.

05. Nakayama Festa -also from Japan and owned by Shinici Izumi. Ran a huge race in the Arc last year when just denied by Workforce. Finished last of four in the Prix Foy behind Sarafina, but that was his first run after a long break and he could be capable of getting involved in the finish once again

06. So You Think – A remarkably consistent and top class racehorse, So You Think is the main hope of the Coolmore operation. Has enjoyed an excellent season this year in England and Ireland winning both the Coral-Eclipse and the Irish Champion Stakes (both Group 1 races). Although he has raced mainly over shorter trips (2000 metres), he ran a heroic race in last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) when coming third under a big weight and should have no problems staying this trip.

07. Sarafina – owned by H H Aga Khan. Looked very unlucky in last year’s Arc, when was almost brought down in the home straight having been badly hampered. Her whole season has been geared around this race and she looks the leading French contender.

08. Snow Fairy – owned by Anamoine Limited. Won last year’s Hong Kong Cup and this English trained filly looked right back to that level of form when giving So You Think a decent race in the Irish Champion Stakes. Hard to see her turning that form around, but could run well.

09. Treasure Beach – another Coolmore representative. Finished second to Pour Moi in this year’s Epsom Derby and was behind Meandre and Reliable Man in the Grand Prix de Paris. Tough and reliable, but doesn’t look good enough to win here.

10. Meandre – with Nathaniel a late defection from the race due to fast, Meandre will now be carrying the hopes of the Rothschild Family. Has improved out of all recognition this season and looked a serious Arc contender when winning the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in July. Finished behind Reliable Man in the Arc Trial (the Prix Niel) but it would be a surprise if his shrewd trainer, Andre Fabre doesn’t squeeze more improvement out of him on Arc day.

11. Masked Marvel – a late addition to the race owned by Bjorn Nielsen. Has progressed all season in England and landed his biggest prize when winning the final classic of the season, the St Leger. Entitled to have a go at this race, but likely there will be a few too classy for him.

12. Reliable Man – owned by the Pride Syndicate. Finest hour came when winning the French Derby and put aside a disappointing run in the Grand Prix de Paris by winning the Prix Niel on Arc trials day. French 3yos have a good record in this race so he looks a contender, but the likely fast conditions are a worry for him.

13. Shareta – owned by HH Aga Khan. Easily beaten by Galikova in the Prix Vermeille and looks out of her depth in this.

14. Testosterone – owned by Ecurie La Boetie. Also easily beaten by Galikova last time and looks to be making up the numbers.

15. Danedream – owned by Gestut Berg Eberstein. Was an easy winner of the Grosser Preis Von Baden on very soft ground and has some smart form to her name in her native Germany. Had the ground been soft, she would have been interesting but unlikely to beat the best on faster going.

16. Galikova – owned by the Wertheimer brothers and sister to the superstar miler Goldikova. Galikova has improved all season and has won five of the six races she has contested, culminating in an impressive win last time in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille. This will be the first time she has faced colts though and will be a much tougher test.

Verdict: Probably as open an Arc as there has been for many years and there are at least ten horses that have a chance of making the frame. Sarafina is hugely talented and was unlucky last year but she tends to find trouble in her races and could be running on for a place once again. The horse who can beat her is So You Think (above). Not only is Aidan O’Brien’s horse a magnificent equine specimen, but he is also probably the most consitent top class racehorse in the world. The Australians and Coolmore have been saying for months that this horse is something special and this can be the day he can prove it beyond all doubt.

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