8 June 2021
Photo Jockey Club : scoopdyga.com
There were many potential conduits to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (which will take place on Sunday 3 October 2021) in Britain and France last weekend.
On Friday 4 June, the Oaks, a Group 1 race (the highest level in the world racing) for three-year-old fillies, took pride of place at Epsom (Great Britain). Our Prix de Diane Longines is the French equivalent of the Oaks. The Irish filly Snowfall, ridden by Lanfranco Dettori and trained by Aidan O'Brien, simply oozed class as she proved a runaway winner following her 16 lengths triumph: and put simply this equates to the biggest winning margin in the race’s history! Snowfall has therefore stamped herself as a serious contender for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, despite the fact that she doesn’t feature among the current entries for the 3 October feature. She could be in the line-up should her connections decide to supplement her (effectively a last-minute entry) which costs €120,000. The bookmakers are certainly impressed as they have priced her up as the favourite in the « Arc » ante-post market, having quoted the filly at 5/1 (you win 5 euros for every euro wagered should your horse win the race).
The same Epsom card also featured another Group 1 race, the Coronation Cup, but which was the province of older horses. The British-trained Pyledriver won his first race at this level, having beaten the favourite Al Aasy following a superb duel. His trainer, William Muir, has mooted the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as a possible target for his charge. There is still a long way to go, and the horse currently rates odds of around 30-1 in the ante-post market, (which enables bets to be taken in advance of a race).
The following day, Saturday 6 June, the three-year-old colts squared up to each in the top British race reserved for the male classic generation, the Epsom Derby. Again, an outsider, in the form of Adayar, ridden by Adam Kirby and racing in the Godolphin colours, ruled the roost. In common with Snowfall, Adayar’s under the radar performances until now had not been on a par with some of the more heralded performers which carry the Godolphin blue which we associate with Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum; and, he too wasn’t entered in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Nevertheless, some bookmakers are quoting him at odds of 10/1 for the ParisLongchamp showcase.
On Sunday 6 June, the best English thoroughbreds were on view at Chantilly. The Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club (Group 1), the second most valuable French race after the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, went to the favourite St Mark's Basilica - trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien. The three-year-old colt was coming off a win in the Group 1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp three weeks earlier. Although not totally ruling out the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Aidan O'Brien was cautious about his colt's ability to stay the 2,400 metres trip which that race demands. So St Mark's Basilica future could therefore be in top races over 2,000 metres, and the Champion Stakes run at Ascot (GB), at the end of October, could be one such one target. However, nothing is decided... and he, too, is prominent in Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe ante-post lists at odds of around 10/1.
The Grand Prix de Chantilly, a Group 2 race run on the Jockey-Club card, but over a distance of 2,400 metres, enabled In Swoop a four-year-old colt trained locally by Francis-Henri Graffard, to record a virtuoso win. This representative of Gestüt Schlenderhan, one of Germany's historic studs, continues to press his Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe claims, having finished second in the race last year... He will now attempt to go one better! He is variously quoted at odds between 14-1 and 20-1 by the bookmakers.
THE ANTEPOST MARKET: QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE
- Snowfall: 5/1
- Love: 7/1
- Mishriff: 9/1
- Tarnawa: 10/1
- St Mark’s Basilica: 10/1
- Adayar: 10/1
- In Swoop: 14/1 to 20/1