O'Brien plays his ARC hand.
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O'Brien plays his ARC hand.
16 years 8 months ago
Don't forget how good ZARKAVA is!!!!!!!!!
scotia
O'Brien pair Duke and Soldier both on course for Arc bid
Soldier Of Fortune: confirmed on course for the Arc by Aidan O'Brien
DUKE OF MARMALADE and Soldier Of Fortune were confirmed as on course for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday by Aidan O'Brien, who on Monday outlined his plans for France's biggest meeting of the year.
O'Brien has also entered Duke Of Marmalade for Dundalk's Breeders' Cup Trial on Friday night but, speaking at Goffs sales on Monday, the trainer said: “The plan remains the same. Soldier Of Fortune and Duke Of Marmalade are being aimed at the Arc.
“We entered Duke Of Marmalade for the Dundalk race just in case the ground comes up soft at Longchamp later in the week.”
Outlining his other plans for the Arc meeting, O'Brien said: “Halfway To Heaven and You'resothrilling are likely to go for the Prix de l'Opera, Yeats will run in the Prix du Cadran while either Mastercraftsman or Rip Van Winkle will go for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
“Astronomer Royal and US Ranger may go for the Prix de la Foret, while Abraham Lincoln is a possible for the Prix de l'Abbaye.”
Papal Bull and Ask could give Sir Michael Stoute two strings to his bow in Sunday's Arc if ground conditions at the course do not change radically. The surface at Longchamp was given as 3.3 or good to soft on Monday and it's expected to stay that way until Thursday and Friday, when a band of rain is forecast.
No riding arrangements have been finalised for Stoute's pair, but Ryan Moore was on Ask when he excelled in a recent spin with Papal Bull on the Limekilns round gallop.
Stoute said: “Papal Bull is on target for the race and we will have to see about the ground for Ask.”
Connections of Papal Bull are looking forward to the opportunity of gaining an elusive Group 1 success with the son of Sadler's Wells following his close second to Duke Of Marmalade in the King George.
David Stack, a member of the Papal Bull syndicate, said: “Sir Michael picked out the King George and the Arc for him earlier in the year and he's done the first one and is on course for the second.
“The track at Cologne didn't suit him last time and Ryan Moore wasn't too hard on him once his chance had gone.”
French Derby winner Vision D'Etat, who retained his unbeaten record when landing the Prix Niel, delighted connections in his work on Monday.
Trainer Eric Libaud said: “He went a mile with two others and did just what I wanted. This was just a little routine piece of work and Ioritz Mendizabal will ride him again in the Arc.”
Zambezi Sun was put through his paces under his big-race jockey Stephane Pasquier at Chantilly on Monday and also pleased connections.
Trainer Pascal Bary said: “I worked him with two others over nine furlongs and he accelerated really well at the end of the gallop. He is in great shape at the moment.”
Longchamp clerk of the course Christian Delporte said: “I am not intending to water until the end of the week and we must wait and see what rain we get.
“The best guess is that the ground on Sunday will be something like good to soft, as there is no heavy rain forecast before the Arc weekend.”
Attached files
scotia
O'Brien pair Duke and Soldier both on course for Arc bid
Soldier Of Fortune: confirmed on course for the Arc by Aidan O'Brien
DUKE OF MARMALADE and Soldier Of Fortune were confirmed as on course for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday by Aidan O'Brien, who on Monday outlined his plans for France's biggest meeting of the year.
O'Brien has also entered Duke Of Marmalade for Dundalk's Breeders' Cup Trial on Friday night but, speaking at Goffs sales on Monday, the trainer said: “The plan remains the same. Soldier Of Fortune and Duke Of Marmalade are being aimed at the Arc.
“We entered Duke Of Marmalade for the Dundalk race just in case the ground comes up soft at Longchamp later in the week.”
Outlining his other plans for the Arc meeting, O'Brien said: “Halfway To Heaven and You'resothrilling are likely to go for the Prix de l'Opera, Yeats will run in the Prix du Cadran while either Mastercraftsman or Rip Van Winkle will go for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
“Astronomer Royal and US Ranger may go for the Prix de la Foret, while Abraham Lincoln is a possible for the Prix de l'Abbaye.”
Papal Bull and Ask could give Sir Michael Stoute two strings to his bow in Sunday's Arc if ground conditions at the course do not change radically. The surface at Longchamp was given as 3.3 or good to soft on Monday and it's expected to stay that way until Thursday and Friday, when a band of rain is forecast.
No riding arrangements have been finalised for Stoute's pair, but Ryan Moore was on Ask when he excelled in a recent spin with Papal Bull on the Limekilns round gallop.
Stoute said: “Papal Bull is on target for the race and we will have to see about the ground for Ask.”
Connections of Papal Bull are looking forward to the opportunity of gaining an elusive Group 1 success with the son of Sadler's Wells following his close second to Duke Of Marmalade in the King George.
David Stack, a member of the Papal Bull syndicate, said: “Sir Michael picked out the King George and the Arc for him earlier in the year and he's done the first one and is on course for the second.
“The track at Cologne didn't suit him last time and Ryan Moore wasn't too hard on him once his chance had gone.”
French Derby winner Vision D'Etat, who retained his unbeaten record when landing the Prix Niel, delighted connections in his work on Monday.
Trainer Eric Libaud said: “He went a mile with two others and did just what I wanted. This was just a little routine piece of work and Ioritz Mendizabal will ride him again in the Arc.”
Zambezi Sun was put through his paces under his big-race jockey Stephane Pasquier at Chantilly on Monday and also pleased connections.
Trainer Pascal Bary said: “I worked him with two others over nine furlongs and he accelerated really well at the end of the gallop. He is in great shape at the moment.”
Longchamp clerk of the course Christian Delporte said: “I am not intending to water until the end of the week and we must wait and see what rain we get.
“The best guess is that the ground on Sunday will be something like good to soft, as there is no heavy rain forecast before the Arc weekend.”
Attached files
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