‘The cost is incredible’ says a dismayed O’Brien after missing out on Arc
Aidan O’Brien has hinted at the huge financial and emotional cost of being forced to scratch all his runners from yesterday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe card at Longchamp due to contaminated feed. But the trainer revealed that he hoped to be free to have runners again as early as this Wednesday in Ireland. O’Brien... Read More
German Oaks third Virginia Joy lights up Arc sale
German-trained Virginia Joy (Soldier Hollow), Lot 24, became the top price of the Arqana Arc Sale on Saturday night when Michel Zerolo, Nicolas de Watrigant (Mandore International Agency) and Anne-Sophie Yoh-Benet (YOHEA) went head-to-head to secure the three-year-old filly. It was Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock that had the final say with a bid of €975,000... Read More
Derby aspirant Excellent Proposal scores rousing victory at Sha Tin
Rising star Excellent Proposal (Exceed And Excel) made a big statement with an impressive win in the Class 2 Chek Lap Kok Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin yesterday afternoon. The exciting John Size-trained gelding beat a classy field of experienced gallopers to cement his status as a leading contender for this season’s three-race Four-Year-Old Classic... Read More
Sottsass lands Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Enable only sixth
Jean-Claude Rouget-trained son of Siyouni adds Longchamp feature to top-level Prix du Jockey Club and Prix Ganay victories Sottsass (Siyouni) captured the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) in front of a nearly deserted Longchamp yesterday as Enable (Nathaniel) failed in her bid for an historic third victory, finishing sixth under Frankie Dettori.... Read More
Ascend proves to be the Ablest
Ascend proves to be the Ablest Often referred to as the unkindest cut, a gelding operation turned out to be the key to Ablest Ascend (Charm Spirit) showcasing his true ability on Saturday. Underwhelming at his first two runs as a colt at Kranji, when his cantankerous ways proved costly at the start, the son... Read More
No showdown but an Arc to savour as Enable seeks historic third win in gruelling conditions at Longchamp
The setting would not have been more fitting. Paris, the home of the world’s most fabled all-aged contest – today’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) – and the beating heart of European romance, as the idyllic backdrop to the clash between Love (Galileo) and the universally loved. The former, Aidan O’Brien’s dual... Read More