Dubai: Godolphin’s hopes of capturing a fourth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) appear to rest with a talented three-year-old colt who has scored impressive wins at four racecourses in France including Longchamp, Paris, the scene of Europe’s most prestigious and richest horse race on Sunday.
Trained at Chantilly by Andre Fabre, by far the most successful trainer in the French showpiece, Sky Hunter is among 21 horses remaining in the fray ahead of Thursday’s final declaration stage, during which the final field will become known.
A progressive son of 2005 Epsom Derby winner Motivator, Sky Hunter has been beaten just once in five career starts but he was by no means disgraced when a two-length third to Intello in the Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1) at Chantilly in June.
Godolphin, who won the great race with Lammtarra (1999), Sakhee (2001) and Marienbard (2002), can take heart from race trends that show 15 of the last 19 runnings of the 2,400m contest have been won by horses aged three. In addition, 13 of the last 26 Arcs were won by lightly raced but strongly fancied French-trained colts.
For sheer quality, this year’s renewal, the 91st, will boast one of the strongest fields in recent years, with the top nine horses in the exchanges having all won a Group One or Grade One race. And, as far as ratings go, the six top-rated horses in the field have an average Timeform rating of 129.
Ante-post favourite Orfevre, who 12 months ago was beaten by a neck after appearing to have the race all tied up, is back to make amends together with fellow Japanese raider Kizuna, the Japanese Derby-winning son of Deep Impact. Both horses have advertised their Arc claims by winning prestigious trials run at Longchamp last month.
Japanese-trained horses have historically delivered big runs on the day, with El Condor Pasa (1999) and Nakayama Festa (2010) finishing second, while the heavily fancied Deep Impact was third in 2006.
Britain’s hopes of winning the race centre on Roger Charlton’s five-year-old stable star Al Kazeem, who has been campaigned vigourously this season at the highest level.
Charlton told The Telegraph newspaper: “It’s impossible to tell whether some tough races have left their mark but he appears to be in good shape.
“He has worked the last two Saturdays and we know it is to the level that he worked before Ascot and Sandown because we fit them with a speedo.
“There are five or six you could go nap on. If he comes up short, apart from on the day, no one will remember that he ran badly in an Arc.
“It’s a bonus situation for us because, other than winning impressively, it won’t alter his stud value.”
Valued at €4 million (Dh19.9 million), the Arc is currently the world’s second-richest turf race behind the A$6,175,000 (Dh21,132,000) Melbourne Cup and ahead of the ¥476,000,000 (Dh17,851,000) Japan Cup.
It is run at set weights for three-year-olds and upwards and is the centrepiece of an action-packed two-day festival that features six Group 1 races including the 1,800m Prix De L’Opera and the five-furlong Prix De L’Abbaye.
