By Sean Cronin
Khalid Abdullah's femme fatale Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) may have already had more than a fair amount of advantage over her rivals prior to Thursday's draw for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but the gulf was widened further as she was allotted a highly favourable stall six position. With positive vibes flowing from Clarehaven Stables following the defending champion's smooth defeat of Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Sept. 8 G3 September S. on Kempton's Polytrack, the portents for a repeat of the heroics of dual heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) grew as she was the sole leading form contender to get anything like a favourable post in the televised draw. Her year-younger compatriot and fellow filly Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is in 15 and although she is a habitual hold-up runner who needs to swoop late, James Doyle will have to be blessed with more than the usual slice of luck from that compromising stall. There was similarly foreboding news for the leading domestic hope Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) ahead of the ParisLongchamp feature, as Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park's relentlessly progressive 4-year-old will have to overcome the 13 draw, next to Ballydoyle's G1 St Leger hero Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 14. The Niarchos Family's hopes of another victory in the momentous affair shrunk considerably as their June 3 G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) drew the widest post in 19.
Cracksman Proves Evasive Again…
As expected, the extravaganza will be without Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) with connections forced to wait for the seemingly never-ending dry spell to abate. Whatever the weather, Anthony Oppenheimer's increasingly reclusive star will head to the G1 QIPCO Champion S. on Oct. 20.
“It's very sad, as we wanted to run, but we have got to give him the opportunity to show himself at his best,” his owner-breeder said. “As we've got nearer to the weekend, the forecast rain has got less and less. It might end up pouring down on Sunday morning or something, but we had to make a decision. If we did declare and then didn't run, we'd have faced a hefty penalty, I believe, and also it wouldn't be fair on everyone else who wants to know whether he's running or not. We'll go to Ascot now, which we're delighted to do. He's won the race before, it's still a couple of weeks away, so we'll see what the ground is like nearer the time. He'll have to run there anyway as that will be his last race.”
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 4.05 p.m.
QATAR PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE-G1, €5,000,000, 3yo/up, c/f, 12fT
SC PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 18 Defoe (Ire) Dalakhani (Ire) Atzeni Varian 131
2 7 Salouen (Ire) Canford Cliffs (Ire) Murphy Kirk 131
3 4 Capri (Ire) Galileo (Ire) D O'Brien A O'Brien 131
4 10 Way to Paris (GB) Champs Elysees (GB) Mosse Marcialis 131
5 13 Waldgeist (GB) Galileo (Ire) Boudot Fabre 131
6 9 Cloth of Stars (Ire) Sea the Stars (Ire) Cheminaud Fabre 131
7 8 Talismanic (GB) Medaglia d'Oro Barzalona Fabre 131
8 5 Tiberian (Fr) Tiberius Caesar (Fr) Buick Couetil 131
9 1 Clincher (Jpn) Deep Sky (Jpn) Take Miyamoto 131
10 6 Enable (GB) Nathaniel (Ire) Dettori Gosden 128
11 11 Neufbosc (Fr) Mastercraftsman (Ire) Demuro Brandt 125
12 2 Patascoy (Fr) Wootton Bassett (GB) Peslier Thomas Demeaulte 125
13 14 Kew Gardens (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Moore A O'Brien 125
14 19 Study of Man (Ire) Deep Impact (Jpn) Pasquier Bary 125
15 17 Louis d'Or (Ire) Intello (Ger) Hamelin 125
16 12 Hunting Horn (Ire) Camelot (GB) Heffernan A O'Brien 125
17 3 Nelson (Ire) Frankel (GB) Hussey A O'Brien 125
18 16 Magical (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Lordan A O'Brien 121
19 15 Sea of Class (Ire) Sea the Stars (Ire) Doyle Haggas 121
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