September 22272777ththth 2013 QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE 2013 Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October NEWSLETTER’S CONTENT • History p.2 • The prep races p.3 • The 4 Aces p.4 • Longchamp, the temple of the French flat racing p.5 • Olivier Peslier : a legend in his own right p.6 • Short stories p.7 • A profusion of Group races p.8 1 HHHistoryHistory The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1)(G1)(G1) , raced over 2,400 meters and open to thoroughbreds aged three years and older, has not always been Longchamp’s showpiece event. When it was created in 1920, the prize money (331 325 French Francs at that time) was half the Grand Prix de ParisParis’’’’ (G1)(G1)(G1) , which was run over 3,000 meters. However the winners chart of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe became much prestigious very quickly thanks to the first back to back wins of KSAR (1921, 1922), followed by the victories of the champion CORRIDA (1936, 1937). RIBOT was the first big star, putting the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the headlines across the world. In 1955, as a three-year-old, the Italian horse ran for the first time at Longchamp, winning by three lengths ahead of his contemporaries and the elders. The following year, Federico’s homebred champion flew down the straight winning by six lengths, subsequently retiring unbeaten in six outings. In 1965, another phenomenon illuminated Longchamp and its showpiece event: the French three-year-old, SEA BIRD, bred by a textile industrialist and trained by the meticulous Etienne Pollet. Winner of the Epsom Derby (G1)(G1)(G1) a few months earlier, this chestnut horse also left his opponents for dead when winning by six lengths, all the while veering to the left. Then MILL REEF, ALLEZ FRANCE, ALLEGED (the last horse to win back to back in 1977 and 1978), SAGACE, RAINBOW QUEST, DANCING BRAVE marked the 70s and 80s. The 90s are those of exploits of the unbeaten LAMMTARA, PEINTRE CELEBRE, who won by five lengths over his rivals in a record time (2’24”60), and the famous duel between the forthcoming leading stallion MONTJEU and his older Japanese rival, EL CONDOR PASA. The most memorable Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe of the 2000s are those of DALAKHANI (2003), and of the unbeaten three-year-olds, ZARKAVA (2008) and SEA THE STARS (2009). Over the distance of 2,400 meters, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is today the world’s richest race (€4.8 million). Owners, trainers, jockeys, and breeders all dream of winning this World Championship that will see the crowning of a true great. 2 TTTheThe prep races Saturday, September 15th Qatar Prix Niel (G2): here comes KIZUNA! Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1): TREVE in the footsteps of ZARKAVA Out of the ten 3-year-old colts racing this year, the two attractions were the Irish raider Wearing her brand new Qatari silk, the RULER OF THE WORLD, winner of the Epsom unbeaten TREVE was making her comeback Derby (G1)(G1)(G1) , and the Japanese KIZUNA, who after a break. Up against four older mares and won the equivalent race in Tokyo in May. the same number of three-year-old fillies, Both of these horses were running at she was ridden by Lanfranco Dettori for the Longchamp for the first time, taking on the very first time. She was also returning to very talented FLINTSHIRE, winner of the Grand Longchamp, where she made her debut a Prix de Paris (G1)(G1)(G1) in July. year earlier. Perfectly adapted to the course and distance, Held up on the rail, TREVE made her move as well as the very soft ground, KIZUNA and halfway up the home straight to pass her RULER OF THE WORLD showed off their class in rivals with her excellent turn of foot, similar the last 200 meters, fighting neck and neck to the display that she gave in the PPPrixPrix de for victory with only a short head finally Diane Longines (G1)(G1)(G1) . She thus won her ticket separating them. FLINTSHIRE’s limits on the for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1)(G1)(G1) , soft ground are now set. for which she will be supplemented. She will attempt to follow in the footsteps of ZARKAVA, who also won the PPPrixPrix de Diane and Prix Vermeille . Qatar Prix Foy (G2): ORFEVRE arrives on top form Winner last year at this prep race for horses aged four years and older, the 5-year-old Japanese ORFEVRE had not run here since finishing second in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2012. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, this chestnut male was perfectly in command of his eight rivals, winning easily by three lengths. As 2012 Epsom Derby winner – CAMELOT – being a non-runner due to the ground conditions, VERY NICE NAME, second in the race, also acquired his pass for the Arc. HAYA LANDA came fourth in the Arc last year, but disappointed this time, having to settle for sixth place. 3 TTTheThe 4 aces FiveFiveFive-Five ---yearyearyear----oldold ORFEVRE: FourFour----yearyearyear----oldold NOVELLIST: TTTheThe time of revenge MMMadeMade in Germany Hot favourite of last year’s Qatar Prix de Unbeaten in four outings in 2013, this four- l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) , this Japanese year-old trained by Andreas Wohler, thoroughbred is physically impressive and represents the German bloodstock: natural his owners have been dreaming all year class, outstanding ability over classic long since to have their revenge. All the distances, and still improving with age. preparation of this champion has been After one Group2 and three Group1 victories planned to aim at this Sunday, 6th October at Baden-Baden, Saint-Cloud and Ascot 2013. ORFEVRE seems to be stronger than this year, NOVELLIST will be eager to ever. Who to beat him? Maybe nobody but conquer the track of Longchamp, which he himself! has yet to discover. ThreeThree----yearyearyear----oldold TREVE: ThreeThree----yearyearyear----oldold KIZUNA: PPPushingPushing the limits A Japanese first Christiane Head-Maarek is the only woman Until this year, no single one three-year- to have saddled a winner in the Arc. It was old Japanese horse has dared to attempt in 1979 with THREE TROIKAS. She still can one’s chances in the Arc. KIZUNA rises to dream of having a second win this year this challenge and carries the hopes of an with TREVE, who was bred at the the family entire population, along with the elder studfarm (Haras du Quesnay). This much ORFEVRE. Winner of the Japanese Derby in talented filly has not stopped improving an excellent time, KIZUNA perfectly met the this season and her limits are unknown. expectations when debuting at Longchamp Her preparation has been carried out three weeks before “D-Day”. He certainly without the slightest setback. has improved his form since this race. Look out for this very ambitious and tough Samurai! 4 LONGCHAMP, the temple of French flat racing Longchamp racecourse is the oldest Parisian racetrack still organizing horseraces. The first races took place in 1857, on a site that today corresponds to an former royal abbey. With the creation of the Grand Prix de Paris in 1863, and given its geographical location, Longchamp became the flagship of flat racing. It is still the case, 158 years later. The racecourse represents the excellence of horseracing, made in France. Some 30 meetings are organised every year between late March and the end of October, with about 240 races and €20 million in prize money (excluding owners premiums). Among the 27 Group1 races run in France, 16 of them are held in the Bois de Boulogne, at Longchamp racecourse, over all distances from the straight 1,000 meters of the Prix de l’Abbayl’Abbayee de Longchamp (G1)(G1)(G1) to the 4,000 meters of the Prix du Cadran (G1)(G1)(G1) . The main event is obviously the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1)(G1)(G1) , run over 2,400 meters, whose prize money has been raised to €4.8 million in 2013. After several renovations, especially following war damages, the racecourse had its most recent works done in the years 1965/1966. Consequently, the flagship needs today a complete renewal. With the agreement of the city of Paris, owner of the site, a huge project of reconstruction and renovation, worth €100 million, is expected to start in Fall 2014. This work will be spread out over two years. Set in sixty acres in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, Longchamp is a showpiece and the scene of the best flat racehorses. 43% of Group races are run on this site. The main track is one of the most unique in the world, with an ascent representing an elevation of about 10 meters, followed by a descending turn, a false straight and a final straight of 53 meters (to the first post). 5 OLIVIER PESLIER, a legend in his own right Olivier PeslierPeslier, the son of a stonemason, was born in Mayenne. He trained for his career as a jockey by riding in pony races, before joining Patrick Biancone (like Bœuf, Mossé, Legrix and Mongil). He won his first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1)(G1)(G1) at the age of 20, in 1993. Twenty years later, he is in the saddle for the…twentieth time in the Longchamp biggest event. As first jockey for the Wertheimer Brothers since 2000, he will ride this year the three-year-old INTELLO. Peslier is also the defending champion in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe , as he led SOLEMIA to success on behalf of the Wertheimer silk already, when snatching the win from ORFEVRE in the final strides of the race last year.