Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Sarafina leads French charge

Longchamp Arc Meeting / Isabel Mathew / 01 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Is Sarafina a worthy favourite?

"Sarafina has yet to win on good ground, but it should not disadvantage her."

Isabel Mathew provides some helpful insights as she weighs up seven front runners in Sunday's big race at Longchamp...

French participants make up seven of the 16 runners in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, most notably ante-post favourite Sarafina, who will bid to take up where Zarkava left off three years ago for the Aga Khan.

Sarafina: Third after finding trouble in running coming into the home straight in the Arc last year, the Alain de Royer-Dupre trained daughter of Refuse To Bend has been better than ever this year. In June, the four-year-old took the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, showing her trademark burst of speed, once again evident in the Prix Foy over the course and distance when beating Japanese contender Hiruno d'Amour by a short neck. She has yet to win on good ground, but it should not disadvantage her. Drawn number 13, the same as Workforce last year.

Reliable Man: Bounced back to form to take the Prix Niel in impressive fashion from Meandre over the course and distance last month by two lengths, however the predicted going is a major negative for the son of Dalakhani. Unbeaten until disappointing when third to Meandre in the Grand Prix de Paris in July, this was reportedly one race too many for the colt, who is still immature. An easy winner of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), Royer-Dupre has won the Arc twice, including with his sire in 2003.

Galikova: With a good number four draw, she bids to emulate her third dam Gold River, who won the event in 1981 for Jacques Wertheimer. The half-sister to 14 times Group 1 winner Goldikova finally notched a victory at the highest level over the course and distance last month, impressing in the final stages to win by two-and-a-half lengths from fellow Arc runner Testosterone. Doted with a large weight advantage due to her age and sex, the daughter of Galileo's connections have been very confident about her chances to become the fourth three-year-old to triumph in five years. She is, however, untried on firm ground conditions, and the quality of this year's French three-year-olds is hard to sum up.

Meandre: Failed to win as a two-year-old, and has only this year shown his talent. The son of Slickly can pull hard in his races and is reportedly difficult, although he seemed to turn the corner when beating the Irish and French Derby winners in the Grand Prix de Paris when showing an outstanding turn of foot. He since finished a slightly disappointing two length runner up to Reliable Man in the Prix Niel when evens favourite. Fabre's stable has been under a cloud for some time, although the colt has been supplemented into this event by his connections.

Shareta: Sarafina's stablemate has been allowed to take her chance in this event, with her trainer citing that she will enjoy the firm going. Held on form by Galikova on their three meetings, the daughter of Sinndar most recently finished behind her and Testosterone in the Prix Vermeille. Often a front-runner, including in her last three starts, she is sure to contribute to setting the pace for the rest of the field in the early stages. A talented performer in her own right, she won a Group 3 by three lengths at Deauville in August.

Testosterone: Winner of the Group 2 Prix de Malleret in June, Testosterone takes her place in the line-up after finishing second to Galikova in the Prix Vermeille last time for her trainer Pascal Bary. A €15,000 two-year-old, she has won 13 times that in prize money, but seems to be held on form compared to some of the other contenders. The daughter of Dansili only made her debut in April this year, winning at Longchamp over a furlong shorter on her second start.

Silver Pond: Entered in Arqana's Arc Sale the night before, this son of Act One was extremely highly regarded last year when remaining unbeaten to take the Group 2 Prix Hocquart last May for Alec Head's Haras du Quesnay. After a training injury, the four-year-old made a promising comeback race in March, and three months later beat last year's Arc favourite Behkabad by a head in the Grand Prix de Chantilly. He finished a good one-and-three-quarter lengths behind Sarafina in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June, but was 10 lengths adrift of Cirrus des Aigles at Deauville last time. Would probably prefer a softer surface, and has an outside draw.