As has been the case on the first weekend in October for the past few years, I flew from Hong Kong to Paris on Friday night to prepare for the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ meetings, and for sure, to attend the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe day at Longchamp Racecourse today. Racing fans in Hong Kong can also enjoy this Gallic racing action tonight as again we will simulcast six races from the Arc day, including five G1 events. The first race will start at 7.20pm Hong Kong time.
I arrived in Paris on Saturday morning and it started to rain here from about 2:00 in the afternoon. The track was already rain affected and with more rain predicted today, the Arc is set to be run on soft going, which will help horses who can handle this kind of going.
The Japanese horse Orfevre is, for me, the best horse in the race but he has a bad draw in gate 18 and a real soft going is not the best for him to show his full potential. Those three year olds have failed to beat their elders in most all-aged Gr 1 races run in Britain, France and Ireland recently and even the best of the three year olds Camelot, who loves soft going, had a tough season which is likely to show when the chips are down in the finish. I would not be surprised to see an outsider winning the race because one of the other favourites, Shareta, has shown better form over good to firm ground. Sea Moon seems to be in fine condition and enjoys soft ground which is the likely going today.
Bayrir, who was supplemented at a cost of Euro100,000 to take part in this race, is an interesting and improving three-year-old. I think he has a good chance to run in the top three. For me Meandre is another outsider with proven staying ability over 2400M and no soft going concerns either.
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