ALAIN DE ROYER-DUPRE is worried about Zarkava’s draw in stall one ahead of tomorrow’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
The Aga Khan’s three-year-old is unbeaten in her six starts. She is currently a best-priced 15-8 favourite with Skybet and Paddy Power for the Europe’s middle distance championship contest, but she was handed stall one of the 16 runners at yesterday’s final declaration stage.
Her French handler has been delighted with his filly, who has won three Group Ones and took the Prix Vermeille over course and distance on Arc trials day in fine style. But Royer-Dupre has concerns over her draw and is hoping the predicted rain set to fall on the Paris track between today and the off time tomorrow afternoon doesn’t soften the ground too much.
De Royer-Dupre said: “It (the draw) is not ideal. As several races will already have been run, and taking in to account the rain which is forecast, I am afraid that this piece of ground will have deteriorated.
“I would not like for it to rain on Sunday morning. Zarkava is capable of running well on a soft track but I would prefer good ground.”
Zarkava would be the first of her sex to win the Arc since Urban Sea in 1993 if she triumphs and her trainer added: “It is her first time up against the colts and we could not have picked a tougher race in which to do it, she is really racing in great company. On Sunday she will show if she is a very good horse or just a good horse. As you would expect, it is a very competitive race.
“However, one thing she has shown us in her races this year is that she has a very impressive turn of foot but this is much tougher competition than what she is used to. We will just have to wait and see if she is up to it.
“It was strange that she was left in the stalls in the Vermeille because she had never done anything like that before, at home or on a racecourse. The good thing was that she did it in her prep race and not in the Arc itself. She looks very well and worked well earlier in the week.”
The going at Longchamp was good to soft at present (measured at 3.3) yesterday after 3mm of rainfall fell on the track overnight.
The chief opposition to Zarkava comes from the Ballydoyle duo of Duke Of Marmalade and Soldier Of Fortune. Further rain would jeopardise the chance of the former with trainer Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore operation bidding for back-to-back wins in the Arc following Dylan Thomas’s success 12 months ago.
Stable jockey Johnny Murtagh, who clocked up his 19th Group One success of the season yesterday aboard the Coolmore-owned and David Wachman-trained Bushranger in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, has decided to ride Duke Of Marmalade ahead of Soldier Of Fortune, who will be partnered by Seamus Heffernan.
O’Brien said: “We are hoping the ground will be okay. The forecast looks for some showers but that would not be too bad so we are hoping we do not have to make any decision. He’ll be fine on good ground or the slow side of good, something like that, but we are hoping it is not extreme. He is a very good horse, very tough and very consistent in all his races. The lads do a great job with him. He’s just a very, very good horse really.
“Soldier was a very good horse last year, he was very impressive in the Irish Derby and won his Arc trial. We felt that just maybe the Arc came a little bit quick after his trial as he tries very hard in his races.
“The plan was always to start early, give him a summer break and come back for autumn campaign.
“It is very hard (to split them). We think they are two top horses and we have been happy with both since their last runs. Duke’s wins have mostly have been on fast ground, while Soldier is a very good moving horse so handles ease in ground.
“If we get a nice surface, or the slow side of good, I don’t think it will be a problem.”
QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE PREDICTION: 1 DUKE OF MARMALADE 2 Soldier Of Fortune 3 Getaway.
WEEKEND NAPS: TODAY: Exit Smiling (2.25pm Redcar).
TOMORROW: Sean Og (5.40pm Uttoxeter)
