#ArcRoad : Kew Gardens and Capri take the ParisLongchamp road

20 September 2018

#ArcRoad : Kew Gardens and Capri take the ParisLongchamp road

Photos scoopdyga.com

Ireland is expected to have at least two representatives in the forthcoming Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Kew Gardens (Galileo) and Capri (Galileo). Both are trained by Aidan O’Brien.

Kew Gardens will drop back in trip to a mile and a half at ParisLongchamp. Kew Gardens is well known in France by virtue of winning the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1). That ParisLongchamp win was recorded over the same 2,400m course and distance as the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The three-year-old has certainly earned his place in the ‘Arc in the wake of his St Leger (Group 1) success at Doncaster, the mythical race which is run over 2,921 metres. Not only is it the final British ‘classic’ of the season, but also the oldest having been inaugurated in 1776. Aidan O’Brien, the colt’s trainer said: « We'll see how things are with Kew Gardens when he resumes full work early next week. He seems to have come out of his Doncaster win well and it is quite possible that he will go to the Arc. We've no other race in mind for him at this stage but we'll wait and see. »

The road ahead for Capri after the Qatar Prix Foy. Capri was fifth in the Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2) on Sunday, September 16th at ParisLongchamp. The attractive grey was well beaten but was making his return in a high quality field. Besides, he hadn’t run since April. Aidan O’Brien said: « It was always the plan to run Capri in the Prix Foy and then head to the Arc. Because he hadn't run since April, we expected he’d need the run in the Foy and that proved to be the case, but Wayne [Lordan], who rode him on Sunday, was very happy with him. » Capri, too, contested the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2017 but failed to get beyond 17th. He had also contested and won the St Leger at Doncaster on a prior start.

Aidan O’Brien is also keeping his Qatar Prix de l’Arc Triomphe options open for Hunting Horn (Camelot) and Magic Wand (Galileo). The former is coming off a battling second place in the Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2), whereas the filly Magic Wand was just denied by Kitesurf (Dubawi) in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1). The alternative option for the latter is the Prix de l’Opéra Longines (Group 1) over 2,000 metres. This race forms part of the Arc de Triomphe card on Sunday, October 7th and is restricted to fillies and mares.

Kew Gardens is being quoted at odds varying from 10-1 to 14-1 by the bookmakers for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Capri, on the other hand, is available at odds ranging from 14-1 to 40-1 for the same race. The odds of Magic Wand oscillate from 20-1 to 50-1 whereas Hunting Horn is conspicuous by his absence from a number of Arc antepost lists, although he is available at 40-1

The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe takes centre stage on Sunday, October 7th at the ParisLongchamp racetrack. « The Arc », as it is also known as, is the world’s greatest horse race.