HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa’s FRENCH KING carries Qatar’s hopes in QatarPrixdel’ArcdeTriomphe
ENABLE looks forward to making history
12 runners heading to ParisLongchamp for glory
Mdmar – Paris
Photo – Juhaim
Afieldof12willbe there at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, 6 October awaiting the start signal for the € 5,000,000QatarPrixdel’ArcdeTriomphe. The one-of-kind race for 3-year-old and older star thoroughbreds is sure to be extra thrilling from start to finish throughout its 2,400 metre-distance with the defending champion ENABLE present.
The 5YO bay mare of NATHANIEL is going to face the greatest challenge of her career in her bid to be the first horse ever to record a third straight victory of the world’s best race. Continuing her extraordinary record, the John-Gosden’s ward has won 3 group ones this year; namely, the Coral Eclipse over 2000 metres in early July, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes over 2400 metres 3 weeks later and the Darley Yorkshire Oaks over 2400 metres in August when she was last seen. In all three victories, ENABLE was partnered by Frankie Dettori, who steered her to land the QatarPrixdel’ArcdeTriomphe in 2017 and 2019. The Italian master jockey has a lion’s share of the Arc titles with 6 victories in his record and he will be seeking his 7th and straight 3rd with ENABLE.
The His Highness-owned and bred FRENCH KING heads the list of runners. The Henri-Alex Pantall 4YO chestnut colt of FRENCH FIFTEEN has had an incredible series of success this year. He landed the Gr1 HH The Amir Trophy in February, the Gr 2 Carl Jaspers-Preis in May, the Gr 2 Grosser Hansa-Preis in June and the Gr 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin in August last time. All four victories were over 2400 metres. The presence of FRENCH KING in the 2019 renewal of the QatarPrixdel’ArcdeTriomphe is very special as it reflects the high standard of racing in Qatar and, in particular, of the HH The Amir Sword Festival. It is also a demonstration of the success of QREC’s strategy of enhancing local racing to produce horses capable to contest at races of the calibre of the Arc.FRENCH KING will be partnered by Olivier Peslier.
The AndreFabre-trained WALDGEIST will be ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot. The 5YO chestnut son of Galileo won his last run when he scored the Gr1 Qatar Prix Foy over 2400 metres in September. In his previous outing, he finished third behind ENABLE in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes in July.
The Charlie Appleby-trained GHAIYYATH will be ridden by William Buick.The 4YO bay colt of Dubawi won the Gr 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden over 2400 metres in September when he was last seen. His previous run was in April when he finished third behind WALDGEIST in the Gr 1 Prix Ganay over 2100 metres.
The Katsuhiko Sumii-trained KISEKI will have Christophe Soumillon in the saddle. The 5YO son of RULERSHIP finished third behind WALDGEIST in Qatar Prix Foy. He last visited the winners’ enclosure in October 2017 when he won the Gr1 KikukaSho (Japanese St.Leger) over 3000 metres.
The Masahiro Otake-trained BLAST ONEPIECE will be accompanied by Yuga Kawada. The 4YO bay colt of HARBINGER won his latest run, scoring the Gr2 Sapporo Kinenover 2000 metres in August.
The third of the Japanese trio is the TakahisaTezuka-trained FIEREMENT, who will be steered by Christophe-Patrice Lemaire. The 4YO bay colt of DEEP IMPACT finished third behindBLAST ONEPIECE in the Gr2 Sapporo Kinen, but before that he won the Gr1 Tenno Sho over 2 miles.
The Vaclav Luka -trained NAGANO GOLD will be ridden by MickaelBarzalona. The 5YO son of SIXTIES ICON came third in the Gr2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville over 2500 metres in August when he was last seen. His most recent win was in April when he won the listed Prix Lord Seymour over 2400 metres.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained MAGICAL will have DonnachaO’brien astride. The 4YO bay filly of GALILEO, half-sister of WALDGEIST, was victorious in her last call out, landing the Gr1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes over 2000 metres in September. Before that she finished second to ENABLE the Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
The other charge of Aidan O’Brien is JAPAN and he will be ridden by Ryan Moore. The 3YO bay colt of GALILEO, half-brother of both WALDGEIST and MAGICAL, remained unbeaten in his last 3 starts. He won the Gr1 Juddmonte International Stakes over 2000 metres in August, the Gr1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris over 2400 metres in July and the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes over 2400 metres in June.
The Jean-Claude Roget-trained SOFT LIGHT will be partnered by Yutaka Take. The 3YO bay colt of AUTHORIZED has not scored since his successful debut in a 1900-metre race last November. However, he finished second four times, including in front of NAGANO GOLD in the Gr2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville when he was last seen. Earlier, he finished fifth behind JAPAN in the the Gr1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris.
The other ward ofJean-Claude Roget and the third of the 3YO trio is SOTTSASS, who will be ridden by Cristian Demuro. The chestnut colt of SIYOUNI has had 4 wins in 6 starts. He also remained unbeaten in his last 3 calls out; the Gr2 Qatar Prix Niel over 2400 metres in September, the Gr1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club over 2100 metres in June and the listed Prix de Suresnes over 2000 metres in May.
Will the extraordinary ENABLE take all the beating and prove that is hard to envisage anything getting in front of her? Will MAGICAL pose a threat? Will the improving JAPAN confirm that he cannot be disregarded? Will SOTTSASS prove to the locals that they are well represented? Will FRENCH KING have his own word to say? There will be one answer at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, 6 October afternoon.
