The chances of Sea The Stars being withdrawn from Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) due to soft ground appear slim to none, as the weather forecast calls for little or no rain through next Tuesday. The ground at Longchamp at the present is considered on the firm side of good, so it would require a good amount of rain to soften the course significantly.
That, of course, means Sea The Stars’ participation in the Breeders’ Cup is greatly diminished, although trainer John Oxx has not completely shut that door. We’ll just have to see how the colt comes out of the race and whether Oxx wishes to run him into November after a long year that goes all the way back to his Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) victory in early May.
With Queen Elizabeth II (Eng-I) winner Rip Van Winkle and possibly Mastercraftsman, who is scheduled to run next in the group III Diamond Stakes on the all-weather track at Dundalk Friday night, both being pointed to the BC Classic (gr. I), trainer Aidan O’Brien will attempt to secure a place in the BC Turf (gr. IT) for Irish Derby (Ire-I) winner Fame and Glory with a good performance in the Arc. Runner-up to Sea The Stars in the group I English Derby and Irish Champion Stakes, he currently is second choice for the Arc with the British bookmakers, just ahead of Conduit and Cavalryman.
In other Arc news, it was announced that Dar Re Mi, who was disqualified from first in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) after upsetting heavily favored Stacelita, will attempt to avenge that controversial defeat by returning to France for the Arc, as long as trainer John Gosden gives the OK. The daughter of Singspiel, owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, has won the group I Yorkshire Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes this year.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52720/countdown-to-the-cup-arc-weather-looks-goodLast year's Breeders' Cup Mile winner
Goldikova will try for her fourth consecutive
victory in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
Photo: Rick Samuels