Behkhabad to Triomphe

By Alan Conway

So we have reached the first weekend in October. The golden leaves have arrived, the summer is becoming a distant memory and for horse racing the time has come. It’s Arc weekend.

The long winding road of the European flat season reaches its climax with a spectacular Group 1 laden card this Sunday. You would have to go a long way to find a better card than the one that will take place in Paris this weekend

The Qatar sponsored Prix de L’ Arc de Triomphe has for years been the measuring stick for elite horses to be judged upon. More so than any other race there is a special aura around an Arc winner. Established in 1920 when it was won by Comrade. The race has taken prominence in the European calendar.

For seasoned punters there was Sea Bird who beat the strongest Arc field ever assembled and Ribot who won back to back Arcs in the 1950s.

In more recent times there was Dancing Brave and his withering late run that had everyone including the cameraman caught off guard. Other names like Peintre Celebre, Lammtarra, Montjeu and Dalakhani roll off the tongue when flicking through Arcs past. Its roll of honour is as rich as you will come across.

But what makes this race what it is? Could it be that there is rarely a weak renewal of the race? Each year you have the best of the generations fighting it out in the Bois de Boulogne. It’s always run at a true pace and it takes a horse with real acceleration to win the Arc. You need everything, speed, stamina, tactical and cruising speed matched with a will to win to triumph. That’s why an Arc winner is so special. A horse rarely has all these attributes.

This year’s renewal looks well up to scratch. There have been a few late surprises in the run up to the race. The dual classic winner Lope De Vega was added to the field by his trainer Andre Fabre. Even though he has serious doubts about him seeing out the trip you would have to keep Lope De Vega on side given the trainer’s record in the race.

Also Cape Blanco will have the assistance of Christophe Soumillon. His cause can only be helped by having the Belgian in the plate and he is a big player. If you love trends then your cash has to be on Behkhabad. The French-trained colt won the premier Arc trial, the Prix Niel which has delivered a number of recent Arc winners. In a wide open contest Behkhabad appeals as the most likely winner.

Fame And Glory is difficult to work out. Although he has been off since August he has been on the go since March and one wonders how match fit he will be. The ground would also be a concern. Even though he has won on soft going he seems a better horse on quick ground. Yet he is arguably the best horse in the race. When you add in Workforce, Planteur, Youmzain et al the 2010 Arc shall do the race justice.

By Alan Conway