It’s Frankie Dettori farewelling ParisLongchamp in this Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and the $21 Ladbrokes long-shot Free Wind gives him a rendezvous to ‘Where Racing Triumphs.’
With this to be his historical seventh Arc success, it began in 1995 with Lammatarra, then 2001 with Sakeel, Mariebard in 2002, Golden Horn in 2015, and the great mare Enable in 2017, 2018.
In fact, this will be the fourth success with trainer John Gosden, who is now with son Tyreel, as in 2015 he first won the Epsom Derby with Golden Horn, and going onto 11 Group 1 wins with Enable.
In starting from Gate 3, Frankie will be in the white, with green band silks of George Strawbridge, who had Blandford B’stock pay 325,000 Gns for Free Wind at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Being by the all-conquering Galileo, she’s from the stakes winning Duke of Marmalade mare Alive Alive Oh, a half-sister to Japan Gr3 winner Crescendo Love, family of Amfortes, Virginia Waters.
As this is also looking to be 5yo Free Wind final racecourse appearance, she is coming off a head second to Warm Heart in the Yorkshire Oaks, having won the Dubai Middleton Fillies Stakes in May
However, one can’t look past the Prix du Jockey-Club hero Ace Impact for Jean-Claude Rouget, and in drawing Gate 8 it will be Christian Demuro in the yellow and green of Gousserie Racing.
Priced as the $3.50 favourite, he’s coming off victory in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano of 2000m following a 10 week break, having been unbeaten in all five starts this year, and unraced at two.
A €75,000 buy at the 2021 Arqana August Yearling Sale, he’s by dual Champion Stakes winner Cracksman, from the Anabaa Blue mare Absolutely Me, tracing to Irish St Leger winner Iby Bin.
The $6.50 notable shortner is the St Leger Stakes winner Continuous, who is dropping back from 1¾m to 2400m of the Arc, having earlier won the Great Voltigeur Stakes 2400m for Aiden O’Brien.
In drawing Gate 7 of 15 runners for Ryan Moore and Coolmore, the Japan bred Continuous is by the top-line sire Heart’s Cry, the family of Saxon Warrior, from winning the Galileo mare Fluffy.
It’s the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes first and second, Hukum and Westover, who are $7 and $7.50 respectively, with Jim Crowley jumping Hukum from Gate 14 and Rob Hornby in 1.
With trainer Owen Burrows also having Hukum win the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May, he’s a half-brother to the brilliant Baaeed, and sired by the 2009 Arc de Triomphe winner Sea The Stars.
Rival trainer Ralph Beckett also has his 2022 Irish Derby winner Westover highly tuned in last winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud of 2400m in June, being by champion racehorse and sire Frankel.
In perfect timing for this Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the IFHA Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for September have been released with Shadwell Estate owned Hukum on 128.
In sitting second behind the Japanese champion Equinox, on 129 and by-passing the Arc for the Japan Cup, its Hukum and Westover third on 127 for the King George, with Ace Impact 10th on 123.
With Irish maestro Aiden O’Brien not accepting for his Epsom and Irish Derby winner Auguste Rodin on Sunday, its his victory in the Irish Champion Stakes that has Auguste Rodin now rated 24.
Now joined the Top 10 in this seventh edition, the Irish Champion Stakes proved a close contest, with Luxembourg, 123 beaten a half-length, Nashwa 121 in third and King of Steel 121 in fourth.
King of Steel also improved his rating following the Irish Champion Stakes, rising to 121 from 120, while he won the King Edward VII Stakes and third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Nashwa also now joins the rankings having also been second to Mostahdaf 128 in the Juddmonte International Stakes at her previous start, and winning the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes.
Another newcomer to the rankings is Arcangelo on 121 having won the Travers Stakes by a length for his fourth consecutive victory having won the Belmont Stakes at his previous start, and the Peter Pan Stakes earlier in the season.
