Day one of many Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe started nicely yesterday as the perfect wager of the day, VANDEEK, obliged within the Group 1 Center Park Stakes, additional bettering his fame and my love for him.
I simply love Vandeek. Such a superb, trustworthy horse.
Incredible steady star for @gainsboroughHQ.
pic.twitter.com/aNrMVLQ1b8
— Ash Symonds Journalism (@ASymondsJourno) September 30, 2023
Immediately, the characteristic occasion takes place at 3:05 and I’ve a flowery to share in addition to two different horses to contemplate.
It’s set to be a superb day immediately and I can’t look forward to the motion to start.
3:05 Longchamp: Westover @ 7/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW
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As is the character of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, nobody could be knocked off their toes if any of the 15 runners handed the well-known successful put up in entrance.
Keep in mind, it’s solely been two years since Torquator Tasso received the celebrated 1m4f contest at odds of 72/1, so something can really occur.
A HUGE SHOCK IN THE ARC!
🏇🇩🇪 German raider Torquator Tasso storms dwelling down the surface to land the 2021 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at 80/1!#QPAT pic.twitter.com/s46RIJw2s1
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) October 3, 2021
I’m hoping that received’t occur this yr as Westover is my primary Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe horse.
The four-year-old colt by Frankel has carried out brilliantly all season in 4 separate Group 1 races; his worst run of the yr occurred when second to Emily Upjohn within the Coronation Cup at Epsom which says loads.
Ralph Beckett’s steady star started the season with an enormous run within the Group 1 Sheema Traditional in Meydan behind the world-class Equinox; three horses who completed behind Westover within the Sheema Traditional – Zagrey, Russian Emperor, and Mostahdaf – have all received Group 1 races since with the latter succeeding within the Prince Of Wales’s and Juddmonte Worldwide.
🏆Dubai Sheema Traditional (G1)
2410m, 6.000.000 USD, for 3yo+
🇦🇪Meydan
Equinox (JPN)
(4C Kitasan Black – Chateau Blanche, by King Kamehameha)
J : Christophe Lemaire
T :T. Kimura
O : Silk Racing Co., Ltd.
B : Northern Farmpic.twitter.com/Sfbpi34GF8
— 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙍𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 (@WorldRacing1) March 25, 2023
Following his nice effort at Epsom in June, he swept apart Zagrey within the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud earlier than his valiant effort when second to Hukum within the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on his most up-to-date outing.
The explanation why I’m with Westover fairly than Hukum is because of the distinction within the draw – stall one for Westover towards stall 14 for Hukum – and there appears to be an aroma round Owen Burrows’ Sea The Stars total that he doesn’t need rattling quick floor.
A race that lives as much as expectation 💥
Hukum produces a gutsy efficiency to carry off Westover to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes 🤩pic.twitter.com/TIFbrDIyho
— Champions Sequence (@ChampionsSeries) July 29, 2023
With this in thoughts, Westover may have no issues with the official going of excellent, good to agency in locations, and at 7/1, he’s my wager within the season-defining race.
3:50 Longchamp: Lumiere Rock @ 6/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW
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This yr’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera is a tough puzzle to work out as many questions require solutions forward of the 10-furlong fillies and mares contest.
Will Blue Rose Cen bounce again on the bottom? Can we forgive Al Husn for York? Why has Tony Carroll not acquired a runner within the race?
Every of these questions is as pertinent as each other, although the horse who appears to carry many of the solutions is Joseph O’Brien’s Lumiere Rock at 6/1.
The chestnut filly by Saxon Warrior isn’t any stranger to aggressive, high-class races due to her 5 consecutive makes an attempt in Group-level contests for the reason that begin of Might.
The three-year-old, bought for simply 55,000gns on the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearlings Sale, acquired her head in entrance for the primary time this season within the Group 2 Blandford Stakes final day out.
“They usually’re away!”
Constant filly Lumiere Rock, sporting first-time cheekpieces, deservedly enjoys her day within the solar within the Blandford Stakes @curraghrace 👀@JosephOBrien2 | @DylanBrowneMcM pic.twitter.com/4U3476Zgp5
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 10, 2023
Once more, one might query the place Jackie Oh, who reappears immediately, might need completed if her path to the road was clear, but let’s take nothing away from the eventual winner who appeared just like the winner for almost all of the competition.
Moreover, her second within the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot reads favourably thanks to 2 subsequent Group 1 victories for the winner, Heat Coronary heart; Bluestocking (third) ran nicely on her subsequent two begins in Group 1 firm and even the eighth, Lmay, completed third to Sumo Sam within the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster lately.
She is more likely to respect the higher floor and with the cheekpieces remaining on for immediately’s process, Lumiere Rock must be a full of life contender within the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera.
5:00 Longchamp: Kelina @ 16/1 with BoyleSports – 1pt EW
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My persistence to tackle Kinross at each station this season has skilled its ups and downs, although my checking account is starting to get anxious after his two victories at York and Goodwood lately.
Regardless of his apparent claims, the 16/1 floating about for Kelina within the Group 1 Prix de la Foret is simply too massive to depart alone as an each-way proposition.
The three-year-old filly by Frankel receives a helpful 4 kilos from her older rivals and has progressed properly for coach Carlos Laffon-Parias this season.
Her 2023 kicked off with a pleasant second in a one-mile occasion at Longchamp on mushy floor in April earlier than a valiant effort to complete fourth within the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches behind Blue Rose Cen, a future Group 1 Prix de Diane winner.
🌟 She’s a famous person! 🌟
Blue Rose Cen quickens away to win the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at @paris_longchamp for @lemaitre60LA and @CHeadRacing! pic.twitter.com/ZcSO7vUcBd
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) Might 14, 2023
After that, she dropped down in school for the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham the place she simply dismissed Sauterne, one of many market ideas for the Prix de l’Opera, on her solely begin on good floor.
This race is vital as her knee motion for each her French 1000 Guineas fourth and this success, she seemingly likes to glide into her races fairly than utilizing a giant stride like Blue Rose Cen has, suggesting immediately’s good floor must be preferable.
Traditional type to the fore!
Kelina, 4th within the French 1000 Guineas, wins the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/Y4i6mAM4Jm
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 4, 2023
Though she upset at Deauville within the Group 1 Prix Rothschild, that occurred on mushy floor so excuses might be made and her effort within the Group 1 Prix du Moulin final day out was respectable.
Again on sooner floor and dropping in journey to seven furlongs, Kelina appears like a good each-way wager at 16/1.
