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Arc would have been Man against boys

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Manduro's absence has robbed great race of a potentially great champion says French racing expert La Casaque Noire

It was all about Manduro for the right, and wrong, reasons - the best horse in the world over a mile, a mile-and-a-quarter, and now over a mile-and-a-half.

But sadly, shortly after speeding home in the Prix Foy, dispelling any doubt about his ability to get the Arc trip in the process, it transpired that he had sustained a fracture in his hind quarters and (probably) will not race again.

The injury completed a miserable day for Fabre. Indeed, this performance apart, Fabre's runners all ran poorly, some even desperately, as did a few during the week.

Arc dark horse, Sageburg, never got in a blow in his trial and even though the supplementary entry fee for the Arc is small change for the Aga Khan, he won't be wasting his money.

Vadapolina, also owned by "the Aga", and the well-backed favourite in the Prix Vermeille, finished nearer last than first, going out like a light two from home. She won't make the race either.

This leaves just Mandesha defending the famous green silks, albeit in the Princess Zahra's silks.

So, what of the chances of any of the beaten horses on Sunday lifting the big race in three weeks time? Alain de Royre-Dupre seemed satisfied but paradoxically disappointed with Mandesha. He'll fit blinkers after her jockey Christophe Soumillon said she put the brakes on when asked to go after Manduro. And I think she'll enjoy the likely faster pace at Longchamp, as this race, despite the use of a pacemaker, was run at a crawl.

West Wind did little wrong in the Prix Vermeille, coming with a storming surge from the rear, having got into all sorts of trouble in running. She should, and would, have won with a clear passage. The daughter of Machiavellian proved she stays and has place prospects for the Arc, and more - if she is supplemented. After the race, her trainer, Henri-Alex Pantall, was certainly keen on that option!

Passage Of Time returned after a long absence and did as well as could be expected. She warrants a chance at the big one, but you need to be a huge optimist to think she can turn it around with West Wind, let alone win in Paris.

Finally to a horse that I've knocked and knocked - Zambezi Sun. Not for any reason other than he's been over-hyped on the back of next to nothing. He came to win his race but faltered inside the final furlong and had to settle for third.

Before the race his trainer Pascal Bary made it known that he'd need this after a minor set-back. After the race he was upbeat, claiming we'll see a huge improvement in three weeks time. We'll need to, as the race was won with some authority by Soldier Of Fortune, in record time, eclipsing the mark held by Sinndar by almost a second.

Incidentally, the time of this race was over three seconds faster than Manduro's - that's equivalent to 15 lengths. Food for thought!