The Arc this year is somewhat depleted. No Doyen, Sulamani, Latice.
Quiff may or may not run. Godolphin have just one runner as do Ballydoyle.
It is fair to say the race looks less strong than ususal.
EXECUTE: High class seven year old. An upset winner of the Prix Ganay
in May. Has not run since, although his trainer has won this race
twice before and clearly knows what it takes to prepare a horse for
a big race. The Ganay form has not stood up well with the runner up,
Vespone, bitterly disappointing in his subsequent runs. The third
horse home, Fair Mix, did win the Group Three La Coupe, but that came
against far weaker opposition. A son of previous Arc winner Suave
Dancer, like his sire, is also trained by John Hammond.
IMPERIAL DANCER: Has not won since taking the Group One Premio Roma.
Not disgraced when second in the Arc Trial at Newbury - running a
length off Sights On Gold. Ran a solid sixth to Azamour in the highly
competitive Irish Champion Stakes, finishing just a length off Arc
fancy Grey Swallow. The Mick Channon trainee has consistently been
found out at the highest level and looks unlikely to trouble the main
contenders.
MAMOOL: The sole Godolphin contender this year. Was a game winner
of the Group Three September Stakes on his second run after a year
off the track. The former Melbourne Cup contender suffered a severe
injury in the "race that stops a nation" and ran a good
third to Special Kaldoun on his first race back. Conqueror of Albanova
in last year's Preis von Europa - that form was boasted by Sir Mark
Prescott's filly's triple Group One success this year. The five year
old entire bids to give both Godolphin and Frankie Dettori their third
Arc success. Does take a step up in class but has the scope to improve
further. A son of In the Wings he is out of high class Woodman mare,
Genovefa.
POLICY MAKER: The surprise winner of the Prix Foy when beating just
three horses including the disappointing Polish Summer. Previously
he ran second to Gamut in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud. He has won
two of four starts this year and last year finished second to the
brilliant Doyen in the Prix du Lys. His jockey in the Foy now rides
Prix du Jockey Club second Prospect Park which suggests a lack of
confidence. His form (in a weak renewal of the Arc) suggests he could
run into the money. A son of Sadler's Wells, the four year old is
closely related to one of the greatest Arc winners - Peintre Celebre.
TAP DANCE CITY: Last year's nine length Japan Cup winner was a doubtful
starter but his travel problems have been sorted and the seven year
old will run on Sunday. He won the Group One Takazruka Kinen over
11 furlongs at his last start. A son of Pleasant Tap, he bids to improve
on compatriot El Condor Pasa's second placing to Montjeu in 1999.
WARRSAN: Clive Brittain's stalwart has been in excellent form this
year and looks to be one of the horses to beat. After running fifth
in the Dubai Sheema Classic, he ran third in the Jockey Club Stakes
to subsequent Group One winner Gamut. After repeating his success
in the Coronation Cup - over Doyen and Vallee Enchantee - he ran a
narrow second in the Eclipse Stakes. He disappointed in the King George
but bounced back to win the Preis Von Baden over a top class field
which included German Derby winner Shirocco and Mubtaker. Kerrin McEvoy
rides. The six year old is a son of Caerleon and blue hen Lucayan
Princess.
PRIDE: Slightly unlucky when third in the Prix Vermeille to Sweet
Stream. A solid fifth in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud to Gamut and
Policy Maker, was followed by a second place to Whortleberry in a
Group Two race over ten furlongs. Bred to win the Arc, her sire, Peintre
Celebre, and damsire, Alleged, won the race three times between them.
VALLEE ENCHANTEE: Another daughter of Peintre Celebre. Top class filly,
she won the Hong Kong Vase last season. She has not won this year,
but she was an unlucky third in the Coronation Cup behind Warrsan
and Doyen. She then ran fifth to Doyen, Hard Buck and Sulamani in
the King George. None of these runners reoppose her and she has a
shout in a weaker race than usual. The jockey fortunate enough to
ride for the Wildensteins has not been named yet. Out of high class
mare, Verveine, she is a half sister to EP Taylor victress Volga.
BAGO: Last year's champion two year old has been beaten in his last
two starts. A third to Sulamani in the Juddmonte International was
not a disgrace but his third place to Valixir in the Prix Niel was
surprising. Earlier this year he won both the Prix Jean Prat and Grand
Prix de Paris. The fact he was beaten by the French Derby 2 - 3 over
12 furlongs suggest he might be better over ten furlongs. The son
of Nashwan hails from Northern Dancer's family.
CHERRY MIX: High class and improving three year old. He was very impressive
when thrashing multple group winning Martaline by four over 13 furlongs
last time out. The son of Linamix has won his last two starts and
ran second to the retired Voix du Nord in the Prix Noailles. He will
need some give in the going to be at his most effective. Andre Fabre
has won the Arc five times.
MISTER FARMER: Outsider in the race. He has yet to win a race, and
ran second last in the Prix Niel. He previously ran third in the Group
Three Grand Prix de Vichy. A son of 88 Arc winner Trempolino, it is
hard to see featuring here.
NORTH LIGHT: The current favourite. He is bidding to give Sir Michael
Stoute his first Arc win. A good winner of the Dante and Epsom Derby
- beating on both occasions subsequent St Leger winner, Rule Of Law.
He has not run since finishing second in the Irish Derby to Grey Swallow
- another runner here. Grey Swallow beat him half a length at the
Curragh and it should again be close between the pair.
He will be ridden by Kieran Fallon, another looking for his first
Arc win. A son of Danehill, his dam won the Prix du Cadran.
PROSPECT PARK: One of France's best three year olds, the colt was
beaten a head by Blue Canari in the French Derby. He franked the form
by duly winning the Prix du Lys next time out. Beaten narrowly in
the Niel by Valixir, there is little between the two colts - Valixir
finishing behind Prospect Park at Chantilly.
The choice of champion jockey Olivier Peslier - who has won the Arc
three times, he is a son of Sadler's Wells.
SHIROCCO: The fluent, four length German Derby winner. He ran well
when third behind Warrsan in the Preis von Baden at his next start.
A son of German champion sire, Monsun, he is a brother to the high
class Storm Trooper and Subaico. The fourth placed horse in the Derby,
Saldentigerin, ran second in the Group One Preis von Europa behind
Albanova.
GREY SWALLOW: Top class two year old last year. Ran fourth in the
English 2000 Guineas and third in the Irish equivalent. An impressive
winner of the Irish Derby, he ran fourth to Azamour and Norse Dancer
in the Irish Champion. He was supplemented following a work out which
was described by connections as satisfactory. Trained by Dermot Weld,
he is from Daylami's first crop which includes the talented Bull Run
and smart fillies Bay Tree and Hidden Hope.
BLUE CANARI: The upset French Derby winner. Following his narrow Chantilly
win, he was unplaced in the Niel behind Valixir and Prospect Park
- colts he defeated in the French classic. Previously fourth in the
Prix Greffulhe to the ill fated Millemix, he is a son of the retired
Acatenango. His dam, a daughter of Trempolino, is from Mtoto's family.
He bids to give Pascal Bary his first Arc win.
LATICE: The once beaten French Oaks winner. She was very disappointing
in the Prix Vermeille, when unplaced behind Sweet Stream. Conqueror
of the top class colts Prospect Park and
Voix du Nord in the Group Three Prix de Conde as a two year old, she
was a game winner of the Prix de Diane over Prix du Moulin winner
Grey Lilas. A daughter of the late Inchinor, she is from Welsh Pageant's
family. Christophe Soumillion, successful last year on Dalakhani,
rides her.
OUIJA BOARD: The second three year old filly in the race. The daughter
of Cape Cross has been a revelation this year winning the Pretty Polly
Stakes and the Epsom/Irish Oaks double. She missed her prep in the
Yorkshire Oaks, due to the ground, and has not started since beating
Punctilious a length at the Curragh in July. Johnny Murtagh rides
her. The Ed Dunlop trainee apparently remains in training next year.
SILVERSKAYA: Another three year old filly. She won her first three
starts, including the Prix du Royaumont, Group Three, but was beaten,
when in season, in the Prix Mallaret. She bounced back to win the
Prix Minerve at her next start against fillies. The daughter of Silver
Hawk is taking a considerable step up in class and is coming in off
a sixth place in the Prix Vermeille.
SELECTION
1. Grey Swallow
2. North Light
3. Prospect Park |