Christophe Lemaire decided to ride BEHKABAD (Cape Cross [Ire]) on Tuesday,
opting for the Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) winner over SARAFINA (Refuse to Bend
[Ire]) in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp. The
44-year-old Frenchman had his choice between The Aga Khan runners.
Gerald Mosse will pick up the mount on Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) victress
Sarafina, who exits a third in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) over the Arc course
and distance.
“Christophe Lemaire has made up his mind and will ride Behkabad, and Gerald
Mosse will be riding Sarafina,” said Georges Rimaud, racing manager for The Aga
Khan. “I suppose Christophe feels Behkabad has a better chance, but I haven’t
spoken to him on that specific line. I think he feels the horse is right and is
going to progress from his last race, even though he won it.
“Sarafina has come on since her last race and she worked Tuesday morning
without any great sparkle, as she normally does, but the trainer was pleased
with her work, and everything is on course with her as well.
“With a big field, let’s hope there are no traffic problems,” Rimaud added.
“Behkabad needs a clear run through, and Sarafina has the acceleration that
could get her out of trouble in an easier way, but that’s racing and the Arc.
It’s a tough race. (Weather) conditions are not looking great; we have been
getting some rain and we are to get some more this weekend, so we just have to
deal with it. If we get some sunshine it might dry out a little, but it’s a bit
uncertain at the moment.”
Ballydoyle conditioner Aidan O’Brien has four-time Group 1 hero FAME AND
GLORY (Montjeu [Ire]) confirmed for the 1 1/2-mile contest, but has yet to
commit Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) winner CAPE BLANCO
(Galileo [Ire]).
“The plan is to go there with Fame and Glory, and everything has been well
with him,” O’Brien told PA Sport. “Everything is so far, so good, and we’re
happy. We’re also looking at it with Cape Blanco, so obviously there is a little
bit of work to do, and we’ll see what this week will bring. If they both run,
then Johnny Murtagh will ride Fame and Glory and Christophe Soumillon will be on
Cape Blanco.”
O’Brien won the 2007 Arc with Dylan Thomas (Ire).
With uncertain ground conditions causing concern for the connections of some
Arc hopefuls, 26 horses remained engaged following Tuesday’s forfeit stage, with
the possibility of two further additions, dual classic scorer LOPE DE VEGA (Shamardal)
and Grand Prix de Deauville (Fr-G2) winner MARINOUS (Numerous), at the €100,000
supplementary stage Wednesday.
Trainer Andre Fabre, who initially indicated the Arc was not on Lope de
Vega’s agenda, will saddle the three-year-old colt in Sunday’s €4-million event
after owner Dietrich von Boetticher of Gestut Ammerland decided the Poule
d’Essai des Poulains (Fr-G1) and Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) (French Derby)
winner should take his chance.
“Lope de Vega will be supplemented for the Arc,” Fabre told Racing Post.
“He’s very well in himself, which is why we are taking our chance, but, of
course, there is a big question mark about the distance. I’m more hopeful than
confident he’ll stay, but I’ll leave talk about that to the ‘experts.’ It’s not
my money, but it’s very sporting of the owner to decide to run. The horse looks
on very good terms with himself mentally, which was the problem during the
summer. Physically, he’s in great shape.”
Overcast conditions prevailed in Paris Tuesday with continued gray skies and
rain forecast until Saturday.
“The going remains soft to very soft,” Longchamp’s clerk of the course
Christian Delporte told Racing Post. “I have looked at various forecasts
and they aren’t all the same, but further rain is expected, although we don’t
know quite how much.”