Surprise at Royal Ascot : Cracksman, the favourite for Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is beatem !
Photo Cracksman at Epsom SCOOPDYGA / PA Images / Icon Sport
There was a shock today at Royal Ascot where Cracksman, the favourite for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc in October, was beaten in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1).
The John Gosden runner was unable to cope with Poet’s Word in this Group 1 event run over 2.000 metres on a firm track. Cracksman was struggling to go the pace on leaving the stalls and, in the straight, he was powerless to deal with the attack of Poet’s Word. The hotpot was beaten two and a quarter lengths by Poet’s Word with Hawkbill a further eight lengths away in third.
The bookmakers reacted quickly to the defeat. Prior to the race Cracksman headed the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe antepost market at odds varying from 3-1 to 4-1. However, following the defeat, he talk a walk in the betting, having been displaced as favourite. Consequently, he now finds himself cast in the role of second favourite at odds varying from 5-1 and 7-1. His stablemate, Enable, has replaced him as favourite for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She is the defending champion but hasn’t run since her ‘Arc’ success last October following a setback.
Cracksman loses the battle…but not the war
Cracksman lost a battle on Wednesday {today} but not the war, and the four-year-old colt could tackle the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1): a race also known as the British “Arc de Triomphe” at Ascot on July 28. John Gosden, the trainer of Cracksman, said: «I had the impression that he wasn’t concentrated today and he was leaden-footed throughout the race. We are going to take him back home and we
may take a look at the King George. The potential is there but he didn’t really give of himself today…He was never really in the race. He’s an intelligent horse and, at no point, did he help his jockey. I think he was taking more interest in the fillies which contested the previous race, and which were returning to the stables, He has become a bit lazy and we will need to sharpen him more as regards the King George. »
His rider, Lanfranco Dettori, told us: «I don’t know what happened but he wasn’t the same horse which I rode in the spring. He was a bit sluggish today and he wasn’t the Cracksman I know. »
The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be run at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, October 7th. The ‘Arc’, as it has also known, is the great horse race in the world.