26/09/2017. Arc Countdown. History awaits for Dettori as Enable tackles her ‘biggest appointment’

 
ARC COUNTDOWN RECORD IN SIGHT
 
"Enable has dealt with most types of ground and a bit of rain won't bother her"
“Enable has dealt with most types of ground and a bit of rain won’t bother her”
Mark Cranham
 
By James Burn and Scott Burton
   

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.”

 

Frankie Dettori: Arc win number four came on Golden Horn in 2015
Frankie Dettori: Arc win number four came on Golden Horn in 2015
Alan Crowhurst

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. 

He said on Tuesday: “Plans are still a bit up in the air and we’ll probably know more tomorrow but, if it looks being soft ground then there’d be a doubt about Highland Reel and Cliffs Of Moher running.
 
“As of today it’s still the plan to run Winter and Order Of St George, while Capri, Idaho and Seventh Heaven remain possibles.” 

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. 

 

Highland Reel was the star of the show at Ascot last year on King George day
Highland Reel was the star of the show at Ascot last year on King George day
Mark Cranham

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. 

“The forecast hasn’t changed on that score in the last four days and if we got heavy rain on the day of the race that could certainly affect conditions,” said Vincent.
 
Plenty of firms reported support for Dschingis Secret on Tuesday as the prospect of testing conditions became a more significant factor in the market. Germany’s number one hope – subject of positive words from rider Adrie de Vries in Tuesday’s Racing Post – was widely cut to 10-1 (from 14).  

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