RacingBetter News
	Tuesday 7th September 2021

Centenary Running of Arc Shaping Up to Be One of Best Yet

This year’s renewal of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris will be the 100th in the history of the premier European turf contest.

The 1m4f race attracts the best middle-distance runners from around Europe and beyond. It is open to three-year-olds and above and the roll of honour since 1920 includes Mill Reef, Dancing Brave, Sea The Stars and Enable. This year’s renewal could crown another star as the quality of entries is particularly strong. The best of the three-year-old generation are set to tackle some proven horses from the open-age division.

Snowfall May End Up as the Queen of Paris

In the last 20 years, 11 three-year-olds have been successful in the Arc where they have taken advantage of the weight allowance to beat the older horses. Snowfall tops the betting to add her name to that list. As of 30th August, Aidan O’Brien’s runner is the 2/1 favourite in the horse racing odds at Betway for October's race. The daughter of Deep Impact is unbeaten in four starts this season and has produced some impressive performances of the track.

Her first major success came in the Oaks at the Cazoo Derby Festival at Epsom. She beat her rivals by 16 lengths on the Downs in what was a dominant performance. O’Brien’s filly then proved that was no fluke as she added the Irish version of the race at The Curragh. On that occasion, the margin of victory was just over eight lengths.

The Irish trainer has a number of strong chances in the Arc this year. St Mark’s Basilica was victorious in the French Derby and the Eclipse, while Love could be back to have a second shot at the race. However, it is his three-year-old filly who looks to have the leading chance of giving him his third win in the prestigious European contest.

Derby Winner Adayar Has Had a Strong Year

The last Derby winner to go on to win at Longchamp in the Arc in the same year was Golden Horn in 2015. He is the only horse to do that double in the last 10 years. Adayar is bidding to replicate that achievement when he travels to France.

Charlie Appleby’s runner was a surprise 16/1 winner of the biggest three-year-old race of the season at Epsom. The Godolphin-owned horse followed it up with success in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. He finished ahead of a strong field in that open-age race.

The St Leger at Doncaster was considered by his connections, however, his stablemate Hurricane Lane will attempt to win the final British Classic of the season instead. Both of those talented colts could line up at Longchamp in what would be a fascinating sub-plot to the race.

Tarnawa Has Shown Her Class Again

The pick of the older horses in the Arc this year could be Tarnawa. Dermot Weld’s five-year-old has prevailed in her last five appearances on the track. Her latest success came in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown. She blew her rivals away by just over six lengths.

This is set to be Tarnawa’s first appearance in the Arc. She did run at the meeting last year, scoring in the Prix de l’Opera Longines. Her victory in France was one of three Group One successes abroad.

The Irish-based horse is set to feature in the Irish Champion Stakes in what will be her final appearance before the Arc. Her trainer has yet to win Europe’s most prestigious race so he will be hoping his talented mare can help him put that record straight.

Globetrotter Mishriff Looking to Add More Major Honours

Victory in the Arc this year would be some way to cap off the year for Mishriff. He started 2021 with a win in the most lucrative horse racing in the world, the Saudi Cup. Success followed at the Dubai World Cup meeting in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Mishriff proved how durable he was with major glory on turf in the UK when he landed the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor Meeting. He scored by six lengths on the Knavesmire in one of the most dominant performances of the season in the middle distance. He will travel to France with strong claims.

It is set to be a blockbuster race in Paris and whoever does come out on top, may have won one of the best renewals of the French-based contest in its 100-year history.