Aidan O’Brien is responsible for five of the 18 remaining entries for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with all of the market leaders standing their ground at Monday’s first forfeit stage.
In addition to his two most likely runners, Los Angeles and Continuous, O’Brien has left in Auguste Rodin, Opera Singer and Luxembourg for the Longchamp showpiece, while the Coolmore partners could also be represented by the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Delius.
O’Brien has left in Auguste Rodin for the Longchamp showpiece on Sunday (Pic – Ballydoyle Racing)
City Of Troy and Ancient Wisdom, both 40-1 chances, were the shortest-priced entries to be taken out, while the David Menuisier-trained Sunway is the only British-based entry among the 18 at this stage, although Ralph Beckett and Juddmonte are giving serious consideration to adding Bluestocking to the field on Wednesday at the supplementary stage.
Sosie is favourite for Sunday’s race at a general 4-1 off the back of his defeat of Jockey Club winner Look De Vega, who is has been eclipsed with some firms by Japan’s Shin Emperor, who was a fast-finishing third to Economics in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and will once again be partnered by Ryusei Saka.
Coral’s David Stevens said: “Sosie currently heads the betting for Sunday’s Arc following course and distance wins in the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel, but in what is shaping up to be a wide-open renewal of this annual highlight, his position as favourite is far from guaranteed, with Shin Emperor now clear second-favourite as he bids to give Japan a first win in the race.”
Sosie is one of three chances for Andre Fabre to extend his record eight wins in the race, with Mqse De Sevigne set to tackle a mile and a half for the first time on what may be her final career start, while classy stayer Sevenna’s Knight is also set to take his chance under Mickael Barzalona.
As retained rider to Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, Maxime Guyon still has a choice to make between Sosie and Prix Vermeille runner-up Aventure, although she also holds entries in the Prix de l’Opera and the Prix de Royallieu against her own sex.
In addition to the five Ballydoyle entries, Ireland will also field Al Riffa, who is set to be Yutaka Take’s 11th ride in the race and a first Arc runner for trainer Joseph O’Brien.
Arc-winning jockey Rene Piechulek will once again carry Germany’s hopes aboard Fantastic Moon, while further French strength comes in the shape of Zarakem and Survie – who finished second in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Prix de Diane respectively – and Prix Ganay winner Haya Zark.
Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: the remaining entries
- 1 – Zarakem
- 2 – Haya Zark
- 3 – Fantastic Moon
- 4 – Al Riffa
- 5 – Sevenna’s Knight
- 6 – Continuous
- 7 – Auguste Rodin
- 8 – Luxembourg
- 9 – Mqse De Sevigne
- 10 – Look De Vega
- 11 – Shin Emperor
- 12 – Sunway
- 13 – Delius
- 14 – Sosie
- 15 – Los Angeles
- 16 – Survie
- 17 – Opera Singer
- 18 – Aventure
