Arc Eyed By Frankie

Ruler Of The World seen winning the Investec Derby

Frankie Dettori will attempt to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for a fourth time at Longchamp on Sunday after he was confirmed as the rider of Ruler Of The World, last year’s Derby winner, in the European season’s showpiece event.

Ryan Moore, meanwhile, could yet pick up a ride in the race at the 11th hour, with Tapestry, who beat the Arc favourite, Taghrooda, in the Yorkshire Oaks in August, emerging on Wednesday evening as a possible addition to the field at Thursday’s supplementary stage.

Ruler Of The World is just one of three leading contenders for Sunday’s race who will carry the colours of Sheikh Joaan al-Thani’s al-Shaqab Racing, which retains Dettori as its principal jockey. He is now spared the embarrassment of not being aboard any of the al-Shaqab runners, having lost the ride on Treve, last year’s Arc winner, at the request of the filly’s trainer Criquette Head.

He was then denied the chance to partner Ectot, the Prix Niel winner, after the colt’s regular partner Gregory Benoist decided to take the ride in preference to Avenir Certain, the French Oaks winner.

Al-Shaqab bought what was described at the time as “a significant share” in Ruler Of The World in March, when a statement from John Magnier’s Coolmore Stud, where Ruler Of The World will retire to stand as a stallion, suggested that Joseph O’Brien, the trainer’s son, would keep the ride. However, O’Brien has ridden Ruler Of The World only once this season, in the Dubai World Cup in late March, with Dettori coming in for the winning ride in last month’s Prix Foy at Longchamp when O’Brien was on duty for his father at The Curragh.

Dettori rode a well-judged race from the front on Ruler Of The World, but did so in a small field and with plenty of rope from his fellow riders.

It is hard to imagine Dettori attempting a similar trick in the Arc, however, when the pace will be much more strongly contested.

Even a seven-length success in the al‑Shaqab colours in the opening race here on Wednesday could not persuade Dettori to speak to reporters, but Harry Herbert, al‑Shaqab’s racing manager, was relieved that speculation about the ride on Ruler Of The World had been resolved. “We are delighted that Frankie will be on board on Sunday,” Herbert said. “We discussed the ride with John Magnier and the Coolmore team and they are happy for Frankie to take the ride too.

“He is in good form at home and we are looking forward to the race.”

Frankie Dettori

Dettori, who signed a retainer with al‑Shaqab in the summer of 2013, missed out on the winning ride on Treve in the Arc 12 months ago after he broke his ankle in a fall a few days before the race. Thierry Jarnet, who replaced Dettori last year, has since returned to his earlier role as Treve’s regular partner and will be in her saddle again on Sunday.

Joseph O’Brien could now ride Chicquita, last year’s Irish Oaks winner, in the Arc, although the filly has an alternative engagement this weekend in the Group One Prix de l’Opera. Moore, meanwhile, has emerged as a possible partner for Tapestry, who followed up her victory at York by finishing ninth of 10 starters in the Matron Stakes in September over an inadequate trip.

The decision to book Dettori for Ruler Of The World could be seen as a snub to Joseph O’Brien, whose weight would not be an issue on the four-year-old as it was when he was forced to give up the ride on Camelot, the 2012 Derby winner, in the same year’s Arc. Dettori was again the rider to benefit, a decision which precipitated the end of his association with Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation after nearly 20 years. Since three-year-old fillies get a weight allowance from colts, O’Brien could not ride Tapestry either.

It is the money generated by the Coolmore Stud’s breeding and bloodstock operation which supports the racing side of the business at Ballydoyle, however. Sheikh Joaan has invested many millions of pounds to establish himself as a major player in Flat racing, and it seems certain that he will spend millions more at the major bloodstock sales for years to come. Since the Sheikh clearly hoped to see Al Shaqab’s retained jockey aboard Ruler Of The World on Sunday, it must have made perfect business sense from Magnier’s point of view to let him have his way.

The full Longchamp meeting will be televised live on Dstv 239 on Sunday and Saftote betting facilities are also available

Qatar Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe (Group 1)
£4,166,666 added, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
19 remaining entries
Going: N/A