An open-looking renewal of Europe’s richest race is one of five ‘Win and You’re In’ contests on a glittering card at ParisLongchamp on Sunday
The tantalising prospect of seeing Baaeed end his career here has failed to materialise, but the quality on show in the 2022 Qatar Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe remains extraordinarily high and in the absence of TRC’s global #1 we can certainly look forward to a more open race.
Indeed it’s hard to remember a more open Arc in recent years, with solid claims held by at least half of the field, and several others having form of a level comparable to that shown prior to the race by last year’s shock winner Torquator Tasso.
Luxembourg, who missed the Derby through injury, heads the betting following his Irish Champion Stakes defeat of Onesto and Vadeni, but he might not appreciate it if the going becomes testing and both placed horses are top-class middle-distance colts with claims of their own.
The credentials of the outstanding mare Alpinista are hard to fault. She would probably have been a factor here a year ago if connections had been bolder, and following five straight G1 wins at the trip she is understandably the shortest-priced British-trained runner, ahead of easy Irish Derby winner Westover and established international star Mishriff.
Japanese racing is represented by four credible candidates for a race in which it has endured frustration after frustration, notably when Orfevre was collared in the final strides ten long years ago after looking home and dry. The versatile and classy Titleholder is the principle challenger, but Deep Bond, Japanese Derby winner Do Deuce and seasoned international traveller Stay Foolish need respecting too.
Torquator Tasso is back again, this time with Frankie Dettori on board since Rene Piechulek is claimed for Mendocino, another German-trained runner with a serious chance of getting in the money.
A truly outstanding card features another five G1 races, and all but one of them are ‘Win And You’re In’ races for the Breeders’ Cup. The winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac is guaranteed a place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and similarly the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere gets a free place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
The Prix de l’Opera feeds in similar fashion into the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, as does the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. The winners of the last two races in 2021 both went on to Del Mar, but Rougir was only seventh in the Filly & Mare Turf while A Case Of You was fifth in the Turf Sprint.
Key contenders
Alpinista (Sir Mark Prescott/Luke Morris) – hasn’t been beaten for two years and her last five wins have all been in G1 races over this trip; beat Torquator Tasso on one occasion at Hoppegarten last year, and her Yorkshire Oaks defeat of Oaks winner Tuesday was another career best; hard to fault.
Luxembourg (Aidan O‘Brien/Ryan Moore) – met only defeat when staying-on third to Coroebus over inadequate 1m in 2000 Guineas; missed Derby following a setback (favourite at time) but has returned from a break in great form and his Irish Champion Stakes defeat of Onesto and Vadeni hinted at the possibility of more to come over this longer trip.
Mishriff (John & Thady Gosden/William Buick) – major player on international scene for three years, with wins including Prix du Jockey Club, Saudi Cup, Dubai Sheema Classic and Juddmonte International; a contender on his best form, provided it’s not too testing underfoot, but yet to score in 2022 and the Arc seems something of an afterthought; first-time cheekpieces not the most positive sign.
Onesto (Fabrice Chappet/Stephane Pasquier) Always held in high regard and followed first G1 win in Grand Prix de Paris by making Luxembourg work for his narrow win in the Irish Champion Stakes; return to 1m4f is a plus.
Titleholder (Toru Kirito/Kazuo Yokoyama) Won Japanese St Leger last year and has been an easy winner of two more G1s this year, making all in 2m Tenno Sho (Spring) and never worse than second when landing red-hot Takarazuka Kinen over 1m3f; shortest-odds runner out of four credible candidates from Japan, which has long had winning the Arc at the top of its wish list, and looks a very serious contender.
Torquator Tasso (Marcel Weiss/Frankie Dettori) – shock winner of 2021 Arc in heavy ground, beating a strong field headed by previous year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Tarnawa; sole success in a 2022 campaign geared very much towards this repeat bid came in a G2 at Hamburg; more rain the better.
Vadeni (Jean-Claude Rouget/Christophe Soumillon) Highly impressive soft-ground winner of Prix du Jockey Club and followed up by showing smart turn of foot again to beat Mishriff on quick ground in Coral-Eclipse; however, Arc wasn’t on his agenda until he was only third behind Luxembourg and Onesto in an Irish Champion Stakes which didn’t pan out as hoped.
Westover (Ralph Beckett/Rob Hornby) Runaway seven-length winner of Irish Derby after unlucky-in-running third at Epsom (ought to have been second at least and might even have troubled winner); too keen in a small field in King George at Ascot since and promises to be a different proposition here under conditions that ought to suit such a strong stayer; delighting connections at home.
Shall we talk about it?
Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Alpinista: “Last August she beat the future Arc winner in Germany and then won another Group 1 the week before the Arc, so perhaps I should have trained her for the Arc last year. She’s stoutly bred, has tons of pace, is very straightforward and well behaved at home, and as long as the ground is not very deep – she’s won on soft, but not heavy – she’ll run well.”
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Luxembourg and Broome:“Luxembourg is a very straightforward horse and relaxes well. Leopardstown was a perfect race for him after the Royal Whip and we always thought that he would get this longer trip. He won in softish ground at Doncaster last year, but ideally we wouldn’t want it too soft.
“I think the track at Saratoga was a little tight for Broome but we were very happy with his last run as a prep for this race. He gets the mile and a half well and he likes a big open track.”
Toru Kurita, trainer of Titleholder: “Everyone would be super happy if we could do it. Every year horses come to Longchamp who have a lot of Japanese followers so we will try not to disappoint them. I can feel that the horse is getting better and better. He is improving and coming right for the race.”
Frankie Dettori, rider of Torquator Tasso: “This year’s Arc is an open race with 20 runners and there is sure to be a strong pace. The rain is coming and Torquator Tasso is a horse with a great chance.”
Christophe Soumillon, rider of Vadeni: "He's a super horse who showed a very high level of form when winning the Prix du Jockey Club. A lot will depend on certain factors, I think most of all, the ground. The stamina doubt is a valid one, but I think he can do well at 2,400 metres. On his best form Vadeni is capable of extraordinary things and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him finish in the first three.”
Rob Hornby, rider of Westover:“I’ve ridden him in his last four pieces of work and he’s been relaxing really well at home. He’s done very well for the break, and he’s just coming to the boil when we want him, so he’s in good shape. He’ll handle soft ground, so I’m not concerned about that at all, and he’s a strong stayer too. It might just be a gruelling test and so he’s got plenty going for him.”
Yutaka Take, rider of Do Deuce: “Do Deuce won the Derby and after that victory we decided to come to France and run him in the Arc. I think he is the right horse for the race. I’ve ridden very good horses in the Arc and Do Deuce is going to be one of them. He is only three years old and is still improving. He ran three weeks ago [fourth in the Prix Niel] when I felt that he was tired when we came to the final furlong. He hadn’t run for quite some time.”
Graham Dench’s verdict
The Arc seldom provides a simple puzzle and this year’s race looks harder than ever. Alpinista looks rock solid to be thereabouts, while the Irish Champion Stakes winner Luxembourg will have a big chance if he adapts to the very different requirements of this stiffer test, notwithstanding his trainer’s poor record with three-year-olds here.
Last year’s winner Torquator Tasso has been trained all year for this one race and is a must for the shortlist, while his compatriot Mendocino needs respecting too, given the outstanding record here of runners trained in Germany.
Irish Derby winner Westover is very tempting as a strong stayer with loads of class, but this might just be Japan’s year at last. It was impossible not to be impressed by TITLEHOLDER’s two G1 wins this year and helooks the pick of the Japanese quartet. A strong traveller who stays well beyond 1m4f, he has not been over raced and so will be fresher than many. He’s not proven on the likely soft ground but has been targeted here all year and is reportedly in great shape for the race.
• Visit the Breeders' Cup website
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