Qatar’s hopes of retaining the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe title, rests on the trio of Al Shaqab Racing’s Treve, Ruler Of The World and Ectot. With 20 top notch contenders left in the fray for the most coveted Thoroughbred contest on turf, the Qatari supporters would be hoping for a repeat of 2013, when Treve demolished the field while winning the Arc in splendid fashion at the Longchamp racecourse in Paris.

The reigning champion Treve, sporting the colours of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, will be ridden by her regular partner Thierry Jarnet, while Ruler Of The World will have Italian champion jockey Franie Dettori in the saddle and Ectot will be partnered by  Gregory Benoist.

“Treve will carry the first colours of Al Shaqab Racing as she is the reigning champion. Though she failed in the Qatar Prix Vermeille, I feel she still is a top contender in the race. Treve is in really good nick so I wouldn’t rule her out. The rhythm of the Arc will suit her much better than the way the Qatar Prix Vermeille was run. The pace of the Arc,  should suit her. I still think she’ll run a very big race,” Al Shaqab Racing Consultant Herbert Harry said.

Dettori having missed a winning ride on Treve last year due to an ankle injury, has an opportunity to take his fourth success in the Arc when he guides the fortunes of Ruler Of The World. Al Shaqab Racing share ownership of Ruler Of The World with Coolmore.

“We want Dettori to ride him and I thought he was impressive on Ruler Of The World in the Arc trial race a fortnight ago. Dettori rides Longchamp very well and knows the track like the back of his hand. His experience in races like the Arc is very important and we are looking ahead to the big race day,” Herbert added.

Speaking about the prospects of Al Shaqab Racing in the Arc, Herbert said. “I would not put them in any order, but anyone would be thrilled to have just one of them in the race. Ectot has to step up again but I was hugely impressed with him in the Qatar Prix Niel. Ruler Of The World has really strengthened in the recent past and Dettori was genuinely impressed with him in the Qatar Prix Foy. He will have a bold show on Sunday.”

Al Shaqab Racing have a few more top class contenders in the other Group I races on Sunday. Olympic Glory is expected to have his swansong in the Prix de la Foret, while The Wow Signal and Al Naamah will feature in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix Marcel Boussac respectively. Incidentally Olympic Glory gave HE Sheikh Joaan, his first Group I success.

Among the others in the Euros six million contest Taghrooda, winner of the Investec Oaks and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes is likely to be the favourite.

Apart from Ruler Of The World, trainer Aidan O’Brien has Chicquita,  while St Leger winner Kingston Hill is Roger Varian’s hope.

Al Kazeem, who was sixth in the 2013 renewal, has been left in by Roger Charlton, while,  Flintshire is Andre Fabre’s sole contender, while the list is completed by Ivanhowe, Spiritjim, Siljan’s Saga, Montviron, Prince Gibraltar, Free Port Lux, Dolniya and Shamkala. Ivanhowe’s trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho and owners Gestut Schlenderhan have been considering their jockey options, but they have now swooped for William Buick to ride the German raider. Christophe Lemaire suffered an injury scare at Maisons-Laffitte on Monday but is not concerned about his fitness ahead of the race.

The French jockey sustained a slight leg injury in a fall at the Paris track but is not in action again until Friday and is looking forward to the big meeting at Longchamp on Saturday and Sunday.

“I’m fine. I’m just sore in the leg but it’s not a problem. I have three days off without riding so I will be back on Friday,” he said.

Lemaire’s book of rides includes Avenir Certain in the Arc itself. He picked up the mount on the dual French Classic winner after her regular pilot Gregory Benoist rejected her in favour of Ectot, who staked his claim with victory in the Qatar Prix Niel over the course and distance earlier this month.

Lemaire has yet to win France’s biggest race and is hoping he can finally put that record straight.

“I have finished second once in 2006 on Pride and this is the race every jockey wants to win. This is the biggest in our country and one of the biggest races in the world,” he said.

“I would like to win it, of course, and this is definitely one of my best chances.

The forecast is good and will have the perfect ground for everybody and to give all the horses every chance to put up a good performance. This could well be the settings for another glorious weekend for Al Shaqab Racing and Qatar.