SATURDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER, 2017 ARC SALE A WORLDWIDE HIT DETTORI HAS HISTORY By Kelsey Riley Chantilly, FRANCE--The success of a sale can only truly be IN HIS GRASP measured by the racetrack exploits of its graduates, and by that measure Arqana=s Arc Sale is certainly holding its own. The boutique horses in training sale, which begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at trainer Robert Collet=s Pharis Yard just minutes from Chantilly, has had graduates winning all over the globe in 2017. Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}) was expatriated to America after being purchased for i140,000 in 2015, and he won the GI Man o=War S. the following year and added this year=s GII Mac Diarmida S. Wekeela (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) won the GIII WinStar Matchmaker S. in July also for trainer Chad Brown, and Bobby Flay=s Banzari (GB) (Motivator {GB}), bought for i400,000 last year, picked up valuable Grade I black-type just weeks after her sale when third in Woodbine=s GI E.P. Taylor S. last year. Enable | Racing Post On the home front, Sans Equivoque (Ger) (Stormy River {Fr}) won the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte just 13 days after being Victory for Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in Sunday=s G1 Qatar bought by Sun Bloodstock for i180,000 last year. Cont. p3 Prix de l=Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly would have an extra dimension for Frankie Dettori as the Italian chases a record fifth renewal. As if the pressure of riding one of the best fillies of recent times is enough to bear, the 46-year-old could surpass the tallies of Jacques Doyasbere, Freddy Head, Yves Saint-Martin, Pat Eddery, Olivier Peslier and Thierry Jarnet if he converts what many see as the proverbial penalty kick. Khalid Abdullah=s triple Oaks winner who also readily defeated the older horses and colts in Ascot=s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. has been charmed with stall two and her rider has refused to make any secret of his stern belief in her ability to cap a tremendous run in the showpiece of the autumn. AShe=s been a model of consistency and her homework has been its usual golden stuff, plus she has the weight-for-age so I=m relaxed now and really looking forward to it,@ he said. AYou=ve got to be on your wits and Chantilly can be tricky at Arc sale entrant Darbuzan stretches for the win in the times, plus the weather might make things more complicated. G3 Prix de Lutece on Sept. 8 | Scoop Dyga Everyone wants a good position and it=s not straightforward, but a decent pace should make things better for everyone. Obviously I am nervous going into the race, but I am also IN TDN AMERICA TODAY excited. The filly is well, but there are 18 runners in the race, OP/ED: THE DECLINE AND THE FALL anything can happen so you need a lot of luck. She has been Bill Finley delivers an op/ed examining the absence of racing’s very consistent all season. You have just got to keep your fingers biggest stars competing across 18 graded stakes races in America crossed and hope for the best. I would rather be an odds-on this weekend. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. shot than 20-1 going into the race.@ Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 23 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER, 2017 Dettori Has History in His Grasp Cont. from p1 Only third as the even-money favourite for the G2 Prix Dollar Trainer John Gosden was less positive about the inside draw at this meeting 12 months ago and last of five in the May 28 G1 than most and was cautiously optimistic on Friday. AIt was Prix d=Ispahan when the surface was on the quick side, the always going to be a big field, which is the reason we didn=t homebred has enjoyed a spin here in recent days to help his want to run Cracksman in it,@ he said. AIt is good opposition and acclimatisation. it is a proper Arc. Horses with a high draw have the initial AHe is a horse who has lots of energy, just like his dam, and so advantage, as it is a bit like in the boat race and the jockey will it is important to get the dosage of the workload absolutely have to work out what to do. Luckily he has to make that spot-on,@ de Royer-Dupre told Attheraces. AWhen he is too decision, not the trainer. I always think the middle draw is best, fresh, it becomes complicated and when you work them too but we are where we are and we=ve got to get on with it. I just much, they can=t take it. While he is in great form, there are hope we don=t get too much rain on the day. I would love to see some very good horses running in the race and I just hope it it run on better ground, when you see the good horses quicken. doesn=t rain too much. Not that he can=t handle it, but good The filly is well in herself. She is a lovely filly and she is well. She ground would be perfect.@ is weighing more now than she did at the beginning of the year, Another high-profile contender who has fared badly with the which is a good sign. Remember, draw is Satono Diamond (Jpn) Chantilly it is not an easy track, (Deep Impact {Jpn}), whose with sharp bends. Not always chances appear to be dwindling the best horse wins.@ by the minute due to the soft As the fall-out from Thursday=s ground and post position of 13. draw continued, connections of Hajime Satomi=s 4-year-old has >TDN Rising Star= Zarak (Fr) major improvement to find on (Dubawi {Ire}) were left to his warm-up fourth behind ponder tactics from the widest Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier stall in 18. Hollow {GB}) and Cloth of Stars His Highness The Aga Khan=s (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the son of the great Zarkava (Ire) course-and-distance G2 Prix Foy (Zamindar) has been three weeks ago and it is hard to meticulously prepared by Alain see how that will come now that de Royer-Dupre after his career- Zarak | DRC/Andrew Watkins conditions are so unfavourable. best success in the July 2 G1 AHe=s in much better shape Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, having failed to shine on his last three than when I rode him on his comeback in the Prix Foy,@ jockey visits to this track. His best performance here came when Christophe Lemaire told the Racing Post after his gallop on second to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Prix Wednesday morning. AHe=s a horse I know very well and I have du Jockey Club last June and it may be that the testing ground ridden him a lot in races and in the mornings. When he prevalent on that occasion helped him to deal with the accelerates as he really can he gives me a feeling different to the undulations better. one this morning.@ Cont. p3 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 23 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER, 2017 Cloth of Stars | Scoop Dyga Dettori Has History in His Grasp Cont. Cloth of Stars represents the seven-time winning record holder Andre Fabre and on his defeat of Zarak in the 10-furlong G1 Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud May 1 has claims, especially from stall three. By the 2009 Arc hero, the bay is drawn two out from his relative Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and his trainer is convinced he will put up a bold show. AI couldn=t be happier with Cloth of Stars=s condition coming into the race,@ he said. AHis preparation has been ideal and he has come on as expected from his run in the Foy.@ Fabre also saddles Al Shaqab Racing=s Aug. 27 G2 Grand Prix de Deauville runner-up Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) and >TDN Rising Star= Plumatic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The presence of the latter is a leap of faith from France=s most wily handler, as he has significant progression to find on his latest second to Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) in the G3 Prix du Prince d=Orange over 10 furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte Sept. 16. Arc Sale a Worldwide Hit Cont. from p1 Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), a 2015 graduate for i165,000, continues to be one of the most consistent older sprinters in Europe, and he won the Sept. 9 G2 Boomerang S. Auvray (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), the i800,000 top lot at the sale in 2014, flew the flag Down Under last weekend when winning the G3 Colin Stephen Quality S. for the China Horse Club. While these are certainly worthy accomplishments for the Arqana principals to reflect on, it is time to look forward to Saturday=s renewal, which appears on paper to boast plenty of quality. The sale is positioned on Arc eve to take advantage of the out-of-towners flocking in to enjoy France=s showpiece race, and buyers have the chance to purchase a horse to run in their name in the Arc the following day: Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}) (lot 16). Cont. p4 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 4 OF 23 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER, 2017 Arc Sale a Worldwide Hit Cont.