Dettori Anticipating ‘Vintage’ Arc

DETTORI ANTICIPATING ‘VINTAGE’ ARC 
With just a week to go until the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, last-minute preparations are being made and jockeys plans finalized as the racing world turns its attention to Paris. Jockey Frankie Dettori could be aboard last year’s G1 Investec Derby winner Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the €5 million showpiece, and the Italian praised that 4-year-old, on whom he won the Sept. 14 G2 Prix Foy, on Channel 4’s The Morning Line yesterday. 
“He’s a Derby winner, he’s got low mileage this year and he won well last time–I was very impressed,” Dettori said. “The Arc is a very, very difficult race and this year looks a vintage Arc. Looking at that list, you could name 10 horses to win this year–it’s an unbelievable race.” 
Dettori also weighed in on current favorite Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). 
“Three-year-old fillies get 11 pounds from the older horses and she’s a King George winner getting 11 pounds–that’s why Treve was so spectacular last year,” he noted. “It’s a great advantage when a filly is in good form to run in the Arc. They have a great record.” 
Defending winner Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) has failed to find the winner’s circle in three starts this year, most recently finishing fourth in the G1 Prix Vermeille Sept. 14, and Dettori also shared his thoughts on that Al Shaqab Racing colorbearer, whom he has ridden twice this year but was recently replaced by Thierry Jarnet. 
“She’s not the same horse basically,” he said. “She’s moving poorly and she’s not striding out at all. Last year she used to pick up, but I think it’s becoming a bit of a mental issue now. It’s the third time she’s run so poorly. To try to get her back as good as last year is going to be very hard I think.” 
Trainer John Gosden also weighed in on his charge, Taghrooda, and some of the other contenders. 
“[Taghrooda] is in good order, it looks like it’s drying up there,” he said. “She’s good, good to firm, good to soft [ground]–I don’t want it bottomless but there’s no hope of it being bottomless so Treve might not get her ground.” 
Gosden noted that he likes the chances of G2 Prix Niel winner Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). 
“I like the horse that won the Prix Niel and the fact the jockey has chosen him over a Prix de Diane winner is saying a lot,” he said. “We know that the best horse on sheer pure form is Just A Way, but does he stay the mile and a half? I thought he was sensational in Dubai when he won there. I thought Frankie rode a gem of a race the other day in the Prix Foy on Ruler Of The World. It looked like he’d got his interest back.”