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Japan’s long held dream of lifting Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, took on a more realistic hue after Sunday’s trials at Longchamp despite none of their three hopefuls running. |
It may appear a paradox in that the trio—Just A Way, Harp Star and Gold Ship—are still to arrive in France but nothing came out of the three principal Arc prep races that would have dimmed their confidence.
If anything they will arrive next Saturday with realistic hopes of going one better than the gallant Orfevre, who was second in the last two editions at Longchamp.
Both Just A Way, winner of a Group One race in Dubai in March by six lengths, and three-year-old filly Harp Star are rated as short as 6/1 and 15/2 respectively while Gold Ship, beaten in a Group One by Harp Star last time out, is generally around 16/1.
Gold Ship is, however, thought to be the one who will take to the generally softer ground in October better and could be the horse to fulfil a dream that has captivated a nation and which began for them with their first runner 45 years ago.
Sunday’s fare will only have served to encourage them.
Treve, the fearsome filly that put Orfevre in his place last year, looks to have left her best form behind her as she ran fourth in the Group One Prix Vermeille failing to produce her phenomenal acceleration she possessed in 2013.
Her trainer Criquette Head-Maarek produced a sterling defence of the filly’s performance firstly to the entourage of her Qatari owner Sheikh Joaan Al-Thani and then to the assembled media.
“Don’t rule her out of the Arc,” said Head-Maarek, who had taken the bold decision earlier in the week to replace legendary Italian jockey Frankie Dettori with French veteran Thierry Jarnet, who rode her to her Arc success.
“This was a good effort by her, don’t forget she was out for a month because of an injury so this is a good return.
“You are always disappointed when you lose but let us not have a kneejerk reaction. I will do everything to have her ready for the Arc.
“You can never entirely get rid of a cyst in a hoof but the ground should be softer on Arc day and that will suit her,” added the 65-year-old.
The arbiters of form, though, the bookmakers took a dim view of her third successive defeat and she drifted from 7/2 out to as long as 10/1 for the race in three weeks time.
The biggest obstacle to the Japanese challenge looks set to come from two other fillies, unbeaten French Guineas and Oaks champion Avenir Certain and Epsom Oaks winner Taghrooda, trained in England by John Gosden, who is yet to win the Arc.
Neither of them ran in the trials with Avenir Certain’s trainer Jean-Claude Rouget preferring to keep her fresh for her first ever run over a mile and a half (2400metres) and now generally share favourite status at 5/1.
For Avenir Certain’s regular jockey Gregory Benoist, however, a tough decision awaits as Ectot returned after a five month absence to win the Prix Niel impressively and earn a 7/1 quote.
“It is a position I would rather be in than not to have a choice to make at all,” said Benoist, who had to wait till November last year for his first ever Group One win.
“I will talk to both camps and then make my mind up. It may be at the last moment.”
Should Benoist opt for Avenir Certain then that could let in Dettori to ride Ectot as the latter is part-owned by Sheikh Joaan—the Italian, though, could also remain loyal to Sunday’s Prix Foy winner and last year’s Epsom Derby victor, Ruler of The World.
