The French Sosie and Look de Vega, the Japanese Shin Emperor and the Irish Los Angeles… Sixteen English thoroughbreds will compete on Sunday at the ParisLongchamp racecourse for the title of world galloping champion in the 103rd Prix from the Arc de Triomphe on the classic course of 2,400 meters.
To succeed the French Ace Impact on the winners of this legendary race sponsored by Qatar with a prize pool of 5 million euros, it will take the horses launched at nearly 60 km/h a little over two minutes to win the Grail. The winner’s entourage will pocket more than 2.8 million euros.
Favorite Vega and Lookalike Look
The 3-year-old colt Look de Vega won the Prix du Jockey-Club in June at Chantilly, becoming the best colt in Europe. This time he will aim for the world crown.
“Look de Vega had gained weight this summer and was still a little heavy in the Prix Niel where he finished 3rd. He has since regained his healthy weight”explained Yann Lerner, his mentor, by video conference.
Ronan Thomas, his jockey described “a horse with a good temperament, an impressive physique, 1.68 meters at the withers, easy to ride and with a good burst of speed”.
The other attraction, the colt Sosie, is trained at Chantilly by André Fabre, record holder for the number of victories in the event with eight successes. It belongs to the Wertheimer & Frère stable, owner in particular of the haute couture house Chanel.
“Everything is fine with Sosie. His victories in the Paris Grand Prix and then in the Qatar Prix Niel position him as the best French 3-year-old over the distance”estimates Pierre-Yves Bureau, manager of the stable. “It’s up to him to prove that he is the best, period!” It will be piloted by Maxime Guyon, three times Cravaches d’Or and in search of a first Arc.
Ireland in force
“Al Riffa has speed, poise and adapts to all terrains, he has the profile for the Arc. Yutaka Take, the Japanese legend will ride him. A great experience for us”said his trainer, Irishman Joseph O’Brien.
The hopes of his father, Ballydoyle master trainer Aidan O’Brien, will be with Los Angeles.
“As Los Angeles ran well in the Irish Champion Stakes, we feature him in the Arc. He is a great horse who is progressing physically and runs well over 2,400 meters”he said. He will also saddle Continuous, 5th in the Arc last year.
Bluestocking and Sunway will run for England.
Winner of a preparatory race, the Prix Vermeille, the mare Bluestocking was registered late. His entourage had to pay 120,000 euros for his participation.
Sunway is trained in Pulborough, West Sussex by French trainer David Menuisier.
“Sunway is one of the toughest horses I have trained, he never stops giving his best”related David Menuisier.
As for the German Fantastic Moon, he will try to bring back the trophy across the Rhine, three years after Torquator Tasso.
Japanese hope
Finally, what if it was he who offered a first coronation in Japan, the chestnut Shin Emperor ridden by Ryusei Sakai, aged 27? The Japanese have tried in vain for a coronation since Symboli Speed in 1969 and around twenty attempts. Shin Emperor, son of the stallion Siyouni, born at Haras de Monceaux in Normandy, will try to put an end to the curse of the land of the Rising Sun.
Shin Emperor was purchased for 2,100,000 euros at the Arqana sales in Deauville.
“I found him better than the others. I advised the owner to buy it”remembers his coach Yoshito Yahagi.
“The Arc is the hardest race to win. All the winners are European horses and the state of the ground is decisive”he believes. “Shin Emperor is good on soft ground, that’s what is announced on Sunday”.
This brother of Sottsass, winner of the Arc in 2020, finished 3rd in Ireland in the Irish Champion Stakes.
“Since then, he has been in better shape. I expect a good result on Sunday”hopes his jockey Ryusei Sakai.
Related News :