A quality field of 17 will go to post in the 104th running of the 1 1/2-mile Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Sunday (October 5), with the winner earning an automatic berth into the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Minnie Hauk, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was supplemented to the Arc earlier this week for a cost of €120,000. After just two starts as a 2-year-old, the daughter of Frankel (GB) has gone from strength to strength this year, winning a hat-trick of Group 1 races in the Betfred Oaks (G1), Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1), and Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks (G1).
Ahead of the race, O’Brien commented on the prospect of Minnie Hauk attempting to crown what has been the perfect campaign so far.
“This filly looks like a progressive 3-year-old and everyone says that type of filly has a good chance in the Arc,” he said. “With a 3-year-old filly they can progress into another gear at this time of year. They’re slowly turning into 4-year-olds so it’s going to be interesting. We’re as fascinated as everyone else to see which way it falls.”
Minnie Hauk’s chief rival looks to be Wertheimer & Frere’s Aventure. Christopher Head’s filly will hope to go one place better than she did when second to Bluestocking in last year’s renewal of this race. She warmed up for this nicely when a comfortable 1 1/2-length winner of the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) which also represented a first run back after three months away from the track.
Connections will also be represented by Sosie, who was sent off favorite for this race last year and finished fourth. Andre Fabre’s colt arrives here off the back of a second-placed finish to Byzantine Dream in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2).
The aforementioned Byzantine Dream is looking to finally to become the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), but has been given a draw of stall 15. Oisin Murphy takes the ride.
The Francis Henri-Graffard-trained Daryz steps up to the distance for the first time. The 3-year-old colt will have no problem with the soft ground. Juddmonte’s Kalpana had been the ante-post market leader of this race for a long time before being beaten in her prep race last month. Her conqueror from that day, Giavellotto, reopposes again this Sunday on what will be his first career start in France.
Croix Du Nord, Cualificar, Alohi Alii, Quisisana, Los Angeles, Leffard, White Birch, Arrow Eagle, and Hotazhell complete the field.
