Arc Paris Horse Racing
Sunday afternoon in Paris, the world’s current top-rated jockey will pilot the world’s current top-rated Thoroughbred racehorse in their attempt to make racing history for the second time in just over two months.
Enable was guided by regular rider Lanfranco Dettori to a historic third victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes July 25 at Ascot.
New customers only. Promotion valid until March 16th, 2021. 18+. Min deposit of £10 with promo code CHEL40. A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 on Horse racing. Min odds 1.50. Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet placement and on the 16th March 2021 and expire after 7. Since it was first held on 3 October 1920, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has become the most important flat race in the world, bringing together the finest racehorses and the best jockeys on the planet over one weekend at the famous Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. An exceptionally enjoyable trip for any racing fan. The prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the most valuable race in Europe and attracts top horses and trainers of the flat from all over. Where better to experience such talent other than one of the most famous Cities in the world, Paris.
Dettori will attempt to duplicate that hat trick with the horse he calls “my favorite girl” in what many consider the world’s greatest flat race, the 1 1/2 mile Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the turf at a COVID-19 vacant-Longchamp.
The daughter of Nathaniel (out of Concentric by Sadlers Wells) is heading back to Paris at age six, facing 14 rivals after disappointment in last year’s Arc when the great mare yielded a six-length lead on rain-softened inner turf to old rival Waldgeist, a horse she had beaten three times before.
The daughter of Nathaniel (out of Concentric by Sadlers Wells) is heading back to Paris at age six, facing 14 rivals after disappointment in last year’s Arc when the great mare yielded a six-length lead on rain-softened inner turf to old rival Waldgeist, a horse she had beaten three times before. A yearly event at the Paris racetracks is the “Dimanches au Galop” between the last Sunday in March and the eight Sundays during April and May. It gives the Parisians a chance to rediscover their hippodromes and enjoy a family day. You can picnic inside the racing green or within the park.
An “absolutely insane” record
Her greatness is undeniable, notwithstanding last year’s disappointment. Of her 15 victories in 18 starts, 12 have been G1, 11 of them consecutive before last year’s Arc loss. She has earned $13,841,238 racing in England, Ireland, France and the U.S.
One analyst has referred to her record as “absolutely insane.”
British turf racehorses tend to run under the radar in America. But Enable became more than a blip across the pond in 2018 at Churchill Downs.
The mare had just won her second Arc Oct. 7. Along with the “Win & You’re In” victory came an automatic ticket into the $4 million Breeder’s Cup Turf.
But that would mean shipping 5,000 miles from her home in England to Churchill Downs in the U.S. to race on Nov. 3—in a country where she had never visited, on a track she had never set hoof on—all after having run and won a 1 1/2 mile race in France less than a month before.
That is absolutely insane. But Juddmonte Farms and Enable breeder/owner Prince Khalid Abdullah is a sportsman and wanted his star to gain the worldwide appreciation she had earned.
An epic Breeders’ Cup Turf
Trainer John Gosden has saddled Enable throughout her career. He consistently underplays expectations before her every race. He had reason to on this occasion. Gosden cautioned Enable might not be in her best form after a difficult race, exhausting travel and a new environment. He urged not to expect too much.
Enable gave more than too much that day.
Guided by Frankie Dettori, Enable and Irish filly Magical, ridden by fellow champion jockey Ryan Moore, separated from the rest of the field around the final turn. The quartet then staged one of the most stirring stretch duels in Breeders’ Cup history:
Enable would prevail by less than a length in perhaps her most courageous victory and perhaps the greatest BC Turf race match ever.
Dettori’s greatness as a jockey is equally undeniable. He is known affectionately as “Frankie” to every racing fan in the world. The Italian rider twice rode Enable to victory in the 2017 and 2018 Arc. He has guided her in every one of her starts. Over a riding career approaching 30 years, Dettori has won over 500 Group races around the world and was British Champion jockey three times. His signature achievement was riding all seven winners on British Champions’ Day at Royal Ascot in 1996.
Off as the prohibitive favorite in last year’s Arc, a victory was expected to be the mare’s final race. Rumor had it the race might have been Dettori’s as well. At age 48, having earned virtually every jockey honor possible after a near 30-year career, both could have retired to a comfortable life and an admirable legacy.
But that final loss would have remained an irksome reminder of what might have been.
Ten days after the Arc, Prince Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe issued the owner’s decision: “Prince Khalid has decided to keep Enable in training for 2020. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe remains an important target.”
Dettori tweeted his excitement and the racing world was thrilled.
As a six-year old however, Enable was getting a bit long in the tooth for a world-class middle-distance turf horse. So, she was initially installed at 7-1 odds, nowhere near favored status.
Waldgeist was retired to Germany as a stallion to take advantage of his Arc victory. But other, younger competitors approaching their peak abilities began to line up.
Coming back to racing form
In her first return race this season, Enable lost handily to Godolphin’s Ghiyyath in the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at England’s Sandown July 5. Ghiyyath then went on to defeat old Enable foe Magical in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
Then the stars began to re-align.
Trainer Gosden made it clear Enable was not in racing shape for that first race in July. Too, the Coral-Eclipse is 3/16 of a mile shorter than the Arc. Ghiyyath already had run a poor 10th to Waldgeist and Enable in the 2019 Arc.
Doubts about Ghiyyath already in hand, Magical turned the tables on Ghiyyath, winning the Irish Champion Stakes Sept. 12 at Leopardstown.
Trainer Charlie Appleby, aware of Ghiyyath’s inconsistency and Enable’s coming to form, announced his charge would bypass the Arc and run instead in the now-$4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 7 at Keeneland. In declining the challenge, Appleby noted the BC Turf is soon after the Arc and that travel provided an additional concern for the five-year-old.
All were obstacles overcome by Enable in 2018.
Too, last year’s Arc loss by Enable was likely a tactical loss. Her usual race is to track the leader off the rail, then take and extend her lead well into the stretch. Last year, she instead took an earlier lead riding inside along the rail. That is the shortest distance, but it is also where the rain-soaked turf was softest.
Waldgiest, in a brilliant riding decision by French Champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, followed the pace on the firmer outside. When Waldgeist took the lead in the final 100 yards, Enable had nothing left to challenge.
Some changes would be made
Gosden, ever attentive to detail, made some changes this year. Enable raced against only two rivals, Japan and Sovereign, to gain her historic third victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
In pouring rain, Dettori returned Enable to her usual off-the-rail stalking trip. At one point she trailed Sovereign by several lengths. With plenty left in the stretch and Sovereign worn down by the pace and the rain, Enable easily overtook the leader and won going away by multiple lengths.
Then instead of the Yorkshire Oaks, a race Enable won last year, Gosden opted for the unusual choice of the G3 September Stakes on artificial turf Sept. 5 at Kempton Park. It was an easy victory over a reasonable field in what would be Enable’s last race in her home country. More importantly, the artificial surface is more like rain-softened than firm turf.
The good breeze close to the Arc completed Enable’s preparation.
Lost Love
But even with Ghiyyath gone, Love remained. The horse.
The superb three-year old is the daughter of Galileo, the world’s leading sire. She is trained by Aidan O’Brien, among the world’s finest big-race trainers.
Coming into the Arc, Love owned five consecutive G1 wins among her six graded-stakes victories. They included this year’s 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and, most recently, the Yorkshire Oaks.
Love was installed as the logical favorite.
But the logical favorite is known to like firm turf.
This week, as can happen in Paris in early October, the rains came to the racecourse at Longchamp.
Rain that is expected to continue throughout this weekend into next weekend.
Rain that has resulted in flood warnings for Paris.
So much rain that O’Brien withdrew Love from the Arc Thursday, saying he “didn’t have much choice.”
“I’d imagine Love will now go for the Breeders’ Cup Turf,” O’Brien told Racing Post. “Japan and Hong Kong could be considered after that. We’ll discuss it with the owner, but I’d imagine the Breeders’ Cup will be the priority now. It’s one of the biggest grass races in the world.”
That leaves Enable with shortened odds, currently 7-6, and two serious foes. One is French colt Sottsass. The three-time graded-stakes winner was French Champion last year as a three-year-old and ran an impressive third in the Arc.
The now-second betting choice is Stradivarius. He is best-known as a marathon runner, winning 16 of his 24 starts, all at 16 furlongs (2 miles). He won his fourth consecutive Goodwood Cup Jul. 28.
In one of the great ironies that occur in racing, the six-year-old son of Sea the Stars is trained by? John Gosden of course. His regular rider? Frankie Dettori of course.
Still, there was never any doubt which horse Frankie would choose for the Arc. His “favorite girl” of course.
The greatest racing mare ever?
So here we are on the cusp seeing Enable seal her legacy as perhaps the world’s greatest racing mare ever.
Winx has supporters who claim that honor. The great Australian mare won 40 of her 43 starts. But she left her home Down Under only once to run at Royal Ascot. Critics dismiss her record as having been gained against inferior competition.
America’s Zenyatta and Ruffian both have their champions. But Zenyatta left the comfortable climes of California only twice, her final race a loss to aptly named Blame in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race worthy of its “Classic” designation:
After setting distance and time records in several of her 10 races, Ruffian’s undefeated record—and her life—ended with a fatal breakdown in an ill-fated match race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure in 1975.
The racing world is left with this one rare opportunity to see history writ on turf. The gilded grandstand and the grounds at Longchamp will be largely COVID-19 empty. But millions worldwide will be watching. The weather is likely to be wet and gloomy.
But for three minutes, a deadly virus that has killed over one million people worldwide and has since returned in force to France can be put aside. Any gloomy weather can feel sunny and bright. Millions of horseracing fans can spend at least one entire day smiling and content.
Can one ageing racehorse and one ageing rider make all that possible? Of course.
Live coverage begins at approximately 8 a.m. EDT Sunday morning on some online websites in the U.S. and will be carried by ITV in Britain. Check local listings for precise availability, schedules and times.
Feature image: Frankie Dettori hopes to repeat his 2018 win with Enable in this year’s Arc. ©Richard R. Gross
Get the Timeform verdict for each contender for the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in our runner-by-runner guide.
1 - Persian King (7) Andre Fabre/Pierre-Charles Boudot
Boasts a superb strike rate and made it 3 wins for the year when seeing off Pinatubo in the Prix du Moulin (1m) here last month. One of the more classy ones but very hard to see him staying this trip.
Decisive! Persian King and @PCBOUDOT win the Group 1 Prix du Moulin for André Fabre at @paris_longchamp! pic.twitter.com/RfihTHFWoQ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 6, 20202 - Royal Julius (8) J. Reynier/Shane Foley
Some good runs this year without adding to his November Bahrain success. Huge surprise if he's involved.
3 - Way To Paris (6) Andrea Marcialis/Ioritz Mendizabal
Arc Paris Horse Racing Replays
Has had a good year, landing his first Group 1 in the Prix de Saint-Cloud in June. Poor run in the Prix Foy over C&D 3 weeks ago though and hard to fancy in this.
What a loveable older horse! Way To Paris gets his Group 1, winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for @PCBOUDOT and @teammarcialis at Saint-Cloud… pic.twitter.com/jX3eHeLFab
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 28, 20204 - Japan (11) Aidan O'Brien/Yutaka Take (Non-runner)
Very smart 3-y-o, his wins including the Grand Prix de Paris over C&D, while he was fourth in this. 2020 has been a letdown and Ryan Moore jumps ship but not the biggest surprise to see a revival.
5 - Sovereign (10) Aidan O'Brien/Mickael Barzalona (Non-runner)
Caused a surprise when making all in the 2019 Irish Derby. Not so good this year, including when fancied in the Irish St Leger last time, but will handle conditions in the firing line.
6 - Stradivarius (14) John Gosden/Olivier Peslier
Has led all before him in the British staying division since 2018 and ran a good race in the Prix Foy over C&D last month. Stronger pace/softer ground sure to suit and he's one of the key players.
ANTHONY VAN DYCK makes all and holds on from Stradivarius to win the Group 2 Prix Foy ay @paris_longchamp! 🇫🇷pic.twitter.com/V2E6sNTGxv
— Timeform (@Timeform) September 13, 20207 - Sottsass (4) Jean-Claude Rouget/Cristian Demuro
One of the top 3-y-os in 2019, third in this after winning the Prix Niel over C&D, and has held his form well this term, catching the eye in the Irish Champion 3 weeks ago. Major player back here.
What a horse race!
Superstar mare MAGICAL digs deep to edge out Ghaiyyath in a thrilling Irish Champion Stakes at @LeopardstownRC! 🏆pic.twitter.com/4xurKJkOZi
8 - Enable (5) John Gosden/Frankie Dettori
Superstar mare who won this in 2017 and 2018 and was a fine second last year. Easy wins in small fields the last twice and proven under the conditions. Everything looks set fair for her to make history.
Heartbreak for Enable! The history-seeking mare is collared close home and Waldgeist is the 2019 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner! @paris_longchamp#QPATpic.twitter.com/JMb3hcD3WB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 6, 20199 - Deirdre (12) Mitsuru Hashida/Jamie Spencer
Smart Japanese mare who landed the Nassau at Goodwood in 2019. Plenty of creditable runs since but unlikely to be winning this.
10 - Gold Trip (9) Fabrice Chappet/Stephane Pasquier
Smart colt who won Lyon Group 2 over 11f in June and was much improved behind fellow 3-y-os Mogul and In Swoop in the Grand Prix de Paris over C&D for all he didn't convince with his stamina.
11 - Chachnak (13) Fabrice Vermeulen/Tony Piccone
Took another stride forward when winning the Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange over 10f here last month, just holding on. Big step up in trip/class both likely to find him out here.
12 - In Swoop (1) Francis-Henri Graffard/Ronan Thomas
Took a huge step forward when winning the German Derby in July and shaped really well when splitting Mogul and Gold Trip in the Grand Prix de Paris over C&D. Sterner test will suit and could figure.
IDEE 151. Deutsches Derby (G1)
2400m, 650.000 EUR, for 3yo mares and colts
🇩🇪Hamburg
IN SWOOP (IRE)
(3C Adlerflug - Iota by Tiger Hill)
J : @RonanThomass
T : F. H. Graffard
B : Stall Ullmann
O : Mme Corinna Baronin von Ullmann
2nd Torquator Tasso
3rd Grocer Jack pic.twitter.com/7JHjj75382
13 - Mogul (3) Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore (Non-runner)
Improved again when winning the Grand Prix de Paris over C&D from several of these last month, readily coming clear. Needs more again but looks the Ballydoyle pick and could have more to offer.
MOGUL sprints clear to win the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris under @PCBOUDOT! 🇫🇷pic.twitter.com/EteV5n9VAa
— Timeform (@Timeform) September 13, 202014 - Serpentine (15) Aidan O'Brien/Christophe Soumillon (Non-runner)
Made all under a cracking ride in the Derby but hung right and not so good when behind 3 of these rivals in the Grand Prix de Paris over C&D 3 weeks ago. Supplemented and has Soumillon booked.
Incredible!
SERPENTINE makes all under @emmet_mac to win the 2020 #InvestecDerby in spectacular fashion!pic.twitter.com/JuHvR4ydFI
15 - Raabihah (2) Jean-Claude Rouget/Maxime Guyon
Has made a fine start, winning 3 of her 5 outings, and caught the eye in the Prix Vermeille over C&D last month, keeping on well in a steadily-run race. Gets the good allowances and wouldn't dismiss.
A filly big on talent! Prix de Diane fourth Raabihah hits top gear and motors to victory in the Group 3 Prix de Psyché Sky Sports Racing at @fgdeauville! pic.twitter.com/IIZpyYcAek
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 1, 2020Timeform Analyst's Verdict
Last year's third SOTTSASS is set for a big run and is selected at the prices. He was closing in on Enable all the time 12 months ago, this scenario looking right up his street, and he emerged with credit in the Irish Champion. The mighty Enable, seeking a historic third win in this, looks sure to go well, as does stablemate Stradivarius, who is bound to relish what could be an attritional Arc.