Longchamp preview: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (14.55)
Trainer Andre Fabre has a superb record in the Qatar Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe, and New Bay looks to have outstanding claims of further enhancing it with success in this year’s renewal of the 1m 4f contest at Longchamp (14.55).
The Chantilly-based handler is the most successful trainer in the history of the race having won it seven times, and all bar one of those winners had won the Group 1 Prix Neil heading into the contest.
New Bay is bidding to follow suit having been most impressive when landing the Prix Neil by 2 1/2 lengths when last seen in action.
After racing strongly throughout towards the head of affairs, the three-year-old quickened readily clear inside the final furlong under a hands and heels ride to score with far more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
It was a most taking performance which suggested New Bay was peaking at exactly the right time.
The colt, who won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly earlier in the season, also receives a handy 5lb weight-for-age allowance from Treve and remains lightly raced and open to stacks more improvement after just six starts.
Treve, who is bidding to win the race for a record third time, looks a formdidable opponent.
The Criquette Head-Maarek trained five-year-old anding the 2013 running in impressive fashion by five length from Orfevre, and after disappointing start to last season bounced back to her brilliant best to score 12 months ago in terrific style.
Treve goes into this year’s contest unbeaten in three and in the form of her life, having won the Group 2 Prix Corrida, Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Group 1 Prix Vermeille.
The daughter of Motivator was particular impressive in the latter over course and distance when romping to a six length success on testing ground.
After racing keenly in the earlier stages, Treve made smooth headway on the bridle two from home before quickening clear despite drifting right.
It was an ultra-dominant display, but there is a big doubt in my mind as to whether Treve will be able to post a similar effort on ground which will be much quicker.
Another major player is the John Gosden trained Golden Horn.
After impressively winning the Investec Derby at Epsom and following up in good-style against his elders in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, the three-year-old tasted defeat for the first time when runner-up in the Juddmonte International at York.
However, Golden Horn clearly ran below par that day and bounced back to his best last time out when winning the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
With the drying ground in his favour, the son of Cape Cross looks sure to go close in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
Coral’s top tip: New Bay has had the perfect preparation for the race and looks good value to foil Treve’s hat-trick bid to provide trainer Andre Fabre with an eighth Arc winner.
