Now that the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is imminent, what has for so long seemed a formality for Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is becoming harder to call by the minute as the supporting cast come under scrutiny for Sunday's feature at Chantilly. The Niarchos Family, who enjoyed success in this with Bago (Fr) in 2004, have enjoyed one of their best seasons in 2017 due largely to the exploits of the formidable Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who is far from finished. Certainly the best that Sir Michael Stoute has handled since the 2010 winner of this Workforce (GB) and Harbinger (GB), the homebred took the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown July 8 before looking an improved performer when adding the G1 Juddmonte International S. to his tally at York last time Aug. 23. In between, he was 4 1/2-lengths second to Enable in Ascot's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. July 29 but the ground will be less testing here and he is four pounds better off. There is every chance that this big field will turn him on, as he loves to come from behind and he has a partner in Jim Crowley who knows him inside out by now.
“The feeling he gave me in the Juddmonte was that he'd clearly improved, but he'd need to have as well,” he said. “He was cool as a cucumber that day and seems to be improving with every run. It was very testing in the King George and I'm praying we don't get much rain.”
The owner-breeders's racing manager Alan Cooper added, “Sir Michael has had this in mind for quite some time. We've been very happy with him since York and we're looking forward to it.”
Twelve months on from registering his remarkable history-shaping one-two-three in this, Aidan O'Brien is back with five this time with only one not already successful in Group 1 company. Last year's third Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) would probably need the ground to be more testing than it is, but it is deeper than last year and he seems to be in the form of his life based on his nine-length success in the G1 Irish St Leger at The Curragh Sept. 10. Stayers tend to fare well in this race, with the likes of Ardross (Ire) and Westerner (GB) just missing out and he has always looked like a horse with the requisite class to conquer a major mile-and-a-half contest. Unlike him, Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has stamina to prove but she was able to win a renewal of the G1 Nassau S. marred by extremely testing ground Aug. 3. Suffering her first defeat of the season last time when pipped by Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Matron S. over a mile at Leopardstown Sept. 9, the G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine has turned herself inside out subsequently to force Ryan Moore's hand. There is a sense that 'TDN Rising Star' Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is better than he has shown so far and he was denied a clear run at a crucial stage when third in the King George, while Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a dual Classic winner who denied Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh July 1. That rival would have traded much shorter had he been in this line-up and Capri's G1 St Leger victory 15 days ago was gained with something in hand.
“Winter has been in good form since Leopardstown and everything has gone well,” O'Brien said. “Obviously you can't be sure about the trip, as the furthest she has gone was the mile and a quarter at Goodwood. Capri's in good form. Obviously he hasn't done a lot since Doncaster, but he seems to be in good form. Order of St George is in good form. We've been happy with him since the Irish Leger at The Curragh and everything has gone well.”
It is rare that a G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner is relatively unconsidered in the Arc, but Al Shaqab's Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) comes into this renewal under a cloud after his preparatory fifth in the 10-furlong G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville Aug. 15. Even slower to break than usual there, he is reported back in top order by connections as he tries this trip for the first time.
“He's won at Chantilly, so we don't have to worry on that score,” racing manager Harry Herbert said. “What he has to do is break on terms, if he jumps out slowly, well, you don't want to be giving horses like Enable and Ulysses a start, it will be hard enough to beat them on a level playing field. Of course, over a mile and a half for the first time it will be slightly more forgiving if he is slowly out but we'd obviously rather he was closer to the pace than he has been in the past. He's over the back problem he had at Deauville and he looks much better. We'd like to think he's going with a chance.”
Recent history has told that German challengers have to be regarded with respect and Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) looked a genuine contender when beating Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the course-and-distance G2 Prix Foy three weeks ago. That followed domestic successes in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis at Hamburg July 1 and in Hoppegarten's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin Aug. 13 and jockey Adrie de Vries is confident he will be in the mix.
“Chantilly is a tricky track, it's not like Longchamp, anything can happen,” he said. “Of course Aidan O'Brien will be a danger too, I really liked the way Order of St George won last time so he's one of the dangers and a few others but we fancy our chances. He can win, but he's got a little bit to find to beat Enable.”
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