By Katie Midwinter
One of the world’s most famous races, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has an illustrious roll of honour featuring many familiar names of former legendary racehorses.
The likes of dual winner Ribot, Sea Bird, Mill Reef, Dancing Brave and Urban Sea, who would go on to become a hugely influential broodmare, claimed the prestigious prize during the 20th century, whilst Sea The Stars, Treve, Golden Horn and Enable all added their respective names to the list in more recent times, as well as reigning champion Daryz, who is bidding to become the ninth dual winner of the Group One contest.
Fifteen contenders will attempt to beat last year’s winner including Minnie Hauk, runner-up twelve months ago, in what promises to be a fascinating renewal that features a host of lively contenders with different profiles. The line up includes multiple proven performers at the highest level, Classic winners and progressive youngsters, but who will come out on top?
Here’s a runner-by-runner guide to the prestigious Longchamp Group One.
1. DARYZ
Sea The Stars colt Daryz emulated his sire by winning the race twelve months ago and will attempt to become the first horse since Enable in 2018 to retain the crown following a narrow success over Minnie Hauk in last year’s renewal.
Three wins from four this year, including success over Bay City Roller over course-and-distance when last seen, plus two Group One victories, his only defeat came when third in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes behind Ombudsman. He may not have given his true running that day, as was the case in his only previous trip to England when sixth of six in the Juddmonte International at York last year behind the same rival, and is clearly capable of better, particularly on home turf.
The one to beat with proven form in the race and a favourable preparation, Daryz holds leading claims for a top yard in the hands of Mickael Barzalona.
2. SADDADD
A breakthrough Group One in Baden-Baden served as an encouraging preparation for Saddadd prior to the biggest test of his career at Longchamp. He has more to prove than the main protagonists heading the market, having suffered two Group One defeats already this season, but he remains lightly-raced and still relatively unexposed, perhaps capable of showing further improvement.
The son of Pinatubo shaped well in his first start over a mile-and-a-half when last seen and may prove most effective over this distance. Others have more compelling claims but Saddadd is difficult to rule out considering he may not have reached the ceiling of his ability for Roger Varian, therefore could outrun his odds if able to enjoy a favourable trip from stall 9.
3. CHESTNUT ROCKET
Four-year-old colt Chestnut Rocket was narrowly beaten by Al Aasy in a Deauville Group Two when last seen, having previously won a Listed contest at Lyon Parilly. This is his first Group One assignment and he appears thrown in the deep end, but there have been shock results in the past and he’s another runner who hasn’t been fully exposed, making only his ninth career start.
Significant improvement will be required from the Alicja Karkosa-trained son of Intello, however, and it would be a shock to see him finish first past the post on form shown so far during his career.
4. ADMIRE TERRA
One of two Japanese representatives in the field, Admire Terra brings top level form from his home country into this international assignment, having placed twice in respective Grade One staying contests at Kyoto, including when narrowly beaten in the spring Tenno Show earlier this year.
With proven stamina in his favour, he could be plugging on late in the day but may lack the class of some of his rivals, particularly over this distance. A noteworthy piece of form, however, is his fourth to Deep Monster, who was a subsequent two-length third to Romantic Warrior in a Sha Tin Group One, in a mile-and-a-half Grade Two last autumn.
Whilst further improvement is needed, he could put his stamina to good use but would be a surprise winner.
5. MEISHO TABARU
Dual Grade One winner Meisho Tabaru is an interesting contender for Japan following a 1m3f Hanshin success during the summer. He had previously put in a couple of creditable efforts in defeat at the top level, including when narrowly denied in his penultimate start by Croix Du Nord, with whom he reversed form in his latest start, and when sixth in the autumn Tenno Sho behind Masquerade Ball.
Possessing enough speed to be competitive over a mile-and-a-half in quicker conditions in deep company, as well as proven form over 1m3f, he could be capable of outrunning his odds for trainer Mamoru Ishibashi, and may be one to note at a price.
6. ARROW EAGLE
With a tricky draw from stall 14 to contend with on the back of three defeats this year, Arrow Eagle faces a stiff task in this tough contest but did shape encouragingly back over the middle-distance at Deauville when last seen finishing a close third to Al Aasy and Chestnut Rocket.
A Grade One winner at Saint-Cloud over an extended 1m7f trip in the Prix Royal-Oak, the five-year-old is a proven stayer who also has winning form over a mile-and-a-half.
The son of Gleneagles was well beaten by Daryz on reappearance this year but was a creditable sixth in this contest at huge odds twelve months ago, therefore has some valuable prior experience and could be capable of a similar showing this time around.
7. BAY CITY ROLLER
Likeable colt Bay City Roller may have benefited from more rainfall prior to this contest, but he does have form on a sound surface, including when a close second to Cualificar over course-and-distance in the Prix Niel last year, and has two Group One successes to his name with proven class.
A second-placed effort to Daryz in the Prix Foy here last month was a pleasing preparation ahead of this contest, returning from a 92-day break on that occasion having been off since recording a dominant 10-length victory in the Coronation Cup on Derby Day at Epsom. He has a great amount of ability on his day and, if Oisin Murphy can work some magic from stall 15, it would be no surprise to see the New Bay colt outrun his odds for George Scott.
8. MINNIE HAUK
A close second in the race last year when sent off as the 5-2 favourite, Minnie Hauk warrants a huge amount of respect following that second-placed effort behind Daryz. She hasn’t quite been in the same form leading up to the race this year, but has proven she still retains ability with creditable efforts behind Ombudsman and Kalpana respectively at Ascot and York.
Whilst she doesn’t quite stand out in the field in current form, she is one of a few with previous experience in the race and, having enjoyed herself last year, could put in an improved effort back at Longchamp.
9. KALPANA
Kalpana couldn’t make a significant impression when seventh to Daryz in the previous renewal of this contest, but she has been in exceptional form of late and is bidding for a third successive top level success for Andrew Balding.
The five-year-old mare beat a good field to win the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, finishing a length-and-a-half ahead of Calandagan, before adding the Yorkshire Oaks to her record.
It’s highly possible she could improve on her previous effort in this race, appearing in the form of her life currently, holding strong claims from a favourable draw in stall 6 under Colin Keane.
10. FRIENDLY SOUL
Five-year-old mare Friendly Soul shaped with great promise earlier in her career and landed Group One honours in the Prix de l’Opera here two years ago before a 594-day absence. She was pulled up on return at Haydock this season, having lost her action when the 2-1 favourite, and was entitled to improve for her first completion after a lengthy break when third to Blue Bolt at Royal Ascot.
Second to Diamond Necklace in the Nassau Stakes was another promising effort for the season, and she made her return to the winners’ enclosure when upped to a mile-and-a-half for the first time in a Group One over course-and-distance last month, enjoying a perfect preparation for this race.
There’s plenty to like about the mare who remains unexposed in only her 11th career start, but who has valuable experience in her favour and a positive draw in stall 7.
11. VARANDIR
Three-year-old colt Varandir also represents the Aga Khan Studs for Francis-Henri Graffard, along with reigning champion Daryz, and is another lively contender. He has done very little wrong in his five-race career to date, beaten only when three-quarters-of-a-length behind Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris in his penultimate start.
Having recorded four wins to date, including a Group Two over course-and-distance last month, the Zarak colt remains unexposed and could be capable of showing further progression, potentially still on an upward trajectory. He’s an exciting prospect with a good draw in stall 4, and could pose a serious threat for a formidable operation.
12. BENVENUTO CELLINI
Three-year-old colt Benvenuto Cellini came into this campaign with lofty expectations following a promising juvenile season. He made an impressive start when a four-and-a-quarter-length winner of the Chester Vase on reappearance, before lining up in the Derby at Epsom when declared a non-runner due to a stalls issue following a disappointing effort behind stablemate Christmas Day.
Although he gained Classic redemption in the Irish Derby at the Curragh, and performed with credit when third to Kalpana at Ascot, he underperformed at odds of 2-5 behind Varandir over course-and-distance last month, and significant improvement is required.
At his best, he could pose a threat for a genius trainer, and may have further improvement to come having already shown to possess plenty of class, therefore warrants each-way consideration. He has gained some valuable experience and is yet to be fully exposed in only his ninth start.
13. BRIGHT LIGHT
Bright Light has finished second and third in both of his Group One appearances to date over a mile-and-a-half, including when only narrowly denied by Tiffany at Hoppergarten in his penultimate start.
He’s yet to win in five appearances in Stakes company following a maiden success at Strasbourg, and he’ll need to step forward plenty in these deep waters, but a German-trained contender in Torquator Tasso was able to defy the odds in 2021, and he’s another yet to be fully exposed therefore may be capable of showing improvement but may be found wanting.
14. MALTESE CROSS
Progressive colt Maltese Cross is a formidable contender in this year’s contest, on an upward trajectory, possessing plenty of class and staying ability. He has been beaten only once this season, when second in the Derby to Christmas Day, and claimed his first Group One prize over course-and-distance in his penultimate start.
An impressive victory in the Great Voltigeur Stakes over Pierre Bonnard further enhanced his reputation as he showed a good turn of foot on that occasion at York to win stylishly, and he could be the perfect fit for this challenge.
Trained by William Haggas, the good-looking son of Sea The Stars appears to hold a leading chance, with plenty of stamina and class in his pedigree and a progressive profile. There’s a lot to like about him and he could be the biggest threat to the favourite.
15. THUNDERING ON
Classic-winning filly Thundering On was an impressive winner of the Oaks at Epsom in June when beating Legacy Link by three-and-three-quarter-lengths in good fashion. She was beaten in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, but bounced back following a break at the Irish Champions Festival, claiming Group Two success over a mile-and-a-quarter, and should be suited by this task back up in distance.
The daughter of Frankel, who is out of a Group One winner in Thundering Nights, has proven she possesses plenty of class on her day and will likely be staying on strongly in the finish. From stall 3, the likeable chestnut is another strong contender in the field and could make her presence felt under Pierre-Charles Boudot for Joseph O’Brien.
16. DIAMOND NECKLACE
Likeable filly Diamond Necklace must overcome the widest draw of all from stall 16 if she is to return to the winners’ enclosure at Longchamp. She faces a stiff task but may have the talent to overcome the draw, possessing a huge amount of ability and proven Group One form at the track.
The daughter of St Mark’s Basilica lost her unbeaten tag when a two-length second to Aventure at Deauville when last seen, but can be forgiven for a blemish on her record following a string of top level successes, including in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches here. She also won the Prix Marcel Boussac at this meeting twelve months ago, making it a hat-trick of wins as a juvenile, before returning in great order as a three-year-old, impressing with each run before her latest start.
Dangerous to rule out despite the draw, the Aidan O’Brien-trained contender has appeared to be quite special in many occasions during her career to date, and could be ready to step up to the plate in an assignment of this magnitude.
Prediction:
- Diamond Necklace
- Maltese Cross
- Daryz
- Bay City Roller
