As France-Galop says ‘it’s the pinnacle of international horseracing as some of the world’s most talented thoroughbreds will run in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
‘Reputed to be the world’s greatest horse race that has thrilled the racing world for over a century, it will again feature exceptional horses from across the globe especially for the occasion.’
‘These champions will perform in front of 35,000 supporters from all over the world, and in the electric atmosphere of the ParisLongchamp grandstands it will echo to the thrills of racegoers.’
In being the 103rd running of ‘the Arc,’ run over 2,400m on Sunday 6 October, it’s Ireland’s Coolmore who have Epsom Derby hero City of Troy as their $5.50 Ladbrokes race favourite.
In being posted as the World’s Best Racehorse co-second ranking of 123 for his 2¾ length victory in the Betfred Derby, it certainly made news in by-passing the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
However, in dropping-back in distance to 1¼m of the Coral Eclipse Stakes where he is the hot $1.35 favourite, he’s at $7 for the King Geroge VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes of 1½m at Ascot.
In also having entries in the Juddmonte International Stakes of 1m2½f and the Royal Dubai Irish Champion Stakes of 1¼ m, he’ll again be ridden in the Arc by Ryan Moore for Aiden O’Brien.
Again in the navy blue silks of Mrs John Magnier and the Coolmore partnership, City of Troy ‘silenced his doubters’ in distancing Ambient Friendly and Los Angeles in the Epsom Derby.
In previously being a bad ninth in the 2000 Guineas, he was the undefeated European 2YO Champion in winning the Dewhurst Stakes, and is by Coolmore’s unbeaten Triple Crown sire Justify.
With Coolmore stating Justify ‘is becoming one of the all-time great sires,’ City of Troy is from the Gr1 winning Galileo mare Together Forever, the family of Lord Shankill and Forever Together.
Now that Justify stands permanently at Ashford Stud, he is Australia’s third Leading Sire of 2yo’s and third as Second Crop Sire, while at the Yearling Sales two colts each made $1.3 million.
However, with Look de Vega scoring a 2 length victory on an un-seasonal Chantilly heavy track in the Prix du Jockey-Club, he’s quoted $7 against City of Troy who prefers the firmer going.
So what for Look de Vega on the ‘good’ watered Longchamp track, for he won the Prix de Croissy 2000m on a very soft Longchamp, and is by French Derby-2000 Guineas winner Lope de Vega.
Racing in the orange with green cap of co-breeder Haras de La Morsanglierre for trainers Carlos and Yann Lerner, he was a €160,000 Arqana yearling from the good High Chaparral mare Lucelle.
In being quoted at $26 with betting sites, the soft going of The Curragh would be more liking to Longchamp for the Irish Derby winner Los Angeles, who was third to City of Troy in the Epsom Derby.
Previously winning the Leopardstown Derby Trial and the Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two, he races in the maroon and blue of Coolmore, being by Camelot and a 340,000 Gns Tattersalls Yearling,
And what of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and France Galop as the symbiosis of great racing cultures having first partnered in 2008 to stage the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de triomphe.
Established in the 1960’s the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club was made public in 1975 to represent, promote and advance equine and equestrian initiatives from grassroots programmes.
In expanding into the international arena, it focused on equestrian sport and horse welfare with the QREC promoting Qatar as a world-class hub for horse racing and a leader in pure Arabian breed.
QREC works in achieving excellence in planning, regulating and developing Qatar’s racing industry to reflect the world’s best practices and by harnessing innovation, excellence and integrity.