A good draw and how hot favourite Enable copes with the demands of Chantilly in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are likely to determine if Frankie Dettori becomes a history maker this weekend, racing’s most recognisable face said on Tuesday.
Victory in Europe’s richest race on the John Gosden-trained Enable would be a fifth for Dettori, elevating him above Jacques Doyasbere, Freddy Head, Yves Saint-Martin, Pat Eddery, Olivier Peslier and Thierry Jarnet, who are all on four.
Bookmakers and punters certainly give the 46-year-old plenty of hope, making his dual Oaks heroine, who has also won the King George and Yorkshire Oaks this term, odds-on for the €5 million prize – and Dettori shares their optimism.
Describing himself as nervous and excited, he said: “When it comes to Enable I shouldn’t have to say how good she’s been, it’s black and white!
“She’s been a model of consistency and is in good fettle, but this is her biggest appointment yet. It’s the most famous race in Europe, and she’ll have to deal with that.
“I expect it’s going to be a big field and there will be a lot of dangers. She needs a good draw and Chantilly can be a bit tricky. I don’t doubt the filly’s ability, but you also need a bit of luck in the Arc.”
Dettori, whose previous Arc strikes have come on Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001), Marienbard (2002) and Golden Horn (2015), views Juddmonte International winner Ulysses as his main danger.
“I’m a big fan of him and he’s a horse on the up,” he said on his Ladbrokes blog.
“If Winter turns up she’ll also be a threat, but there’s a question mark about her stamina. You have to be aware of everything, but they’re the two I’d be frightened of the most.”
Dettori added: “I’ve no concerns over the ground. Enable has dealt with most types. A bit of rain won’t bother her. She ran on firm in the Irish Oaks, heavy in the King George, soft at York; she’s tackled most conditions.”
Soft ground could scupper Reel bid
Aidan O’Brien is responsible for seven of the 19 horses left in after Tuesday’s forfeit stage – Enable is to be supplemented on Wednesday for €120,000 – but will monitor the weather before a final decision is taken on how many run.
Ryan Moore was cut to 5-4 (from 4) to ride Order Of St George by Ladbrokes on Tuesday, with original 7-4 favourite in that market, Winter, eased to 11-4.
The ground remained stubbornly at 3.7 (soft) on the penetrometer on Tuesday, with Chantilly clerk of the course Matthieu Vincent warning there is still the threat of significant rain on Sunday.
Green light for Plumatic
Several of the leading players among the home defence came through their final pieces of work during a busy Tuesday morning on Chantilly’s Les Aigles gallop.
The Wertheimer brothers’ racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau confirmed Plumatic will take his chance, meaning Andre Fabre will have at least two runners, having already committed Godolphin’s Cloth Of Stars.
The Aga Khan was on hand as Zarak pleased Alain de Royer-Dupre in disposing of two lead horses in his final gallop, leading the trainer to describe him as “being as well as we could possibly hope”.
The son of brilliant 2008 Arc winner Zarkava looks likely to head to stud at the end of the season, and Royer-Dupre revealed his swansong could come at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day.
“He’s entered in the Champion Stakes, which is far from ruled out,” said Royer-Dupre. “It often works out, as with Pride, who ran well in the Arc and then followed up by winning the Champion. Then, there were only two weeks between the two races, which worked well, now it’s three, and that should be suitable too.”
Zarak has at times lacked a little concentration at the business end of his races but Royer-Dupre believes he is a more mature individual now.
“He always had the habit of stopping a bit when he hit the front and that’s why he had a horse in behind him during today’s gallop,” said Royer-Dupre.
“”When he passed his lead horse – a good horse in his own right –there was another one to come in and keep him up to his work. He hardly blew after the work and appears fit and ready to go.”
Who will Ryan Moore ride?
Ladbrokes: 5-4 Order of St George, 5-2 Capri, 11-4 Winter, 6 Highland Reel, 20 any other horse (bets void if no ride)
Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe card, form and betting
fonte : RacingPost
