A field of 12 will be there at ParisLongchamp today, awaiting the start signal for the €5,000,000 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The one-of-kind race for 3-year-old and older star thoroughbreds is sure to be extra thrilling from start to finish throughout its 2,400 metre-distance with the defending champion Enable present.
The 5YO bay mare of Nathaniel is going to face the greatest challenge of her career in her bid to be the first horse ever to record a third straight victory of the world’s best race.
Continuing her extraordinary record, the John-Gosden’s ward has won 3 group ones this year; namely, the Coral Eclipse over 2000 metres in early July, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes over 2400 metres 3 weeks later and the Darley Yorkshire Oaks over 2400 metres in August when she was last seen.
In all three victories, Enable was partnered by Frankie Dettori, who steered her to land the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2017 and 2019. Th ase Italian master jockey has a lion’s share of the Arc titles with 6 victories in his record and he will be seeking his 7th and straight 3rd with Enable.
The HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned and bred French King heads the list of runners.
The Henri-Alex Pantall 4YO chestnut colt of French Fifteen has had an incredible series of success this year.
He landed the Gr1 The Amir Trophy in February, the Gr 2 Carl Jaspers-Preis in May, the Gr 2 Grosser Hansa-Preis in June and the Gr 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin in August last time.
All four victories were over 2400 metres. The presence of French King in the 2019 renewal of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is very special as it reflects the high standard of racing in Qatar and, in particular, of the The
Amir Sword Festival. It is also a demonstration of the success of QREC’s strategy of enhancing local racing to produce horses capable to contest at races of the calibre of the Arc. French King will be partnered by Olivier Peslier.
The Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist will be ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot. The 5YO chestnut son of Galileo won his last run when he scored the Gr1 Qatar Prix Foy over 2400 metres in September. In his previous outing, he finished third behind Enable in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes in July.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Ghaiyyath will be ridden by William Buick. Kiseki will have Christophe Soumillon in the saddle. The Masahiro Otake-trained Blast Onepiece will be accompanied by Yuga Kawada.
The third of the Japanese trio is Fierement, who will be steered by Christophe-Patrice Lemaire. Nagano Gold will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona.
The 5YO son of Sixties Icon came third in the Gr2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville over 2500 metres in August when he was last seen. His most recent win was in April when he won the listed Prix Lord Seymour over 2400 metres.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Magical will have Donnacha O’brien astride.
The other charge of Aidan O’Brien is Japan and he will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
The Jean-Claude Roget-trained Soft Light will be partnered by Yutaka Take.
The other ward of Jean-Claude Roget and the third of the 3YO trio is Sottsass, who will be ridden by Cristian Demuro.
Will the extraordinary Enable take all the beating and prove that is hard to envisage anything getting in front of her? Will Magical pose a threat? Will the improving Japan confirm that he cannot be disregarded? Will Sottsass prove to the locals that they are well represented? Will French King have his own word to say? There will be one answer at ParisLongchamp on today.
