Cracksman’s absence can Enable Dettori win
FRANKIE DETTORi-ridden Enable is odds-on favourite for Sunday’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe after stablemate Cracksman was ruled out. All public statements about Cracksman running in the Arc from both trainer John Gosden and owner Anthony Oppenheimer, after he had won the Great Voltigeur Stakes and Prix Niel, had been laced with negativity, so yesterday’s announcement was expected. However, Cracksman had been quoted as second favourite in antepost lists. The two-furlong shorter Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 21 is still a possibility for Cracksman but Oppenheimer seems lukewarm on that for a horse he wants to save for its fouryear-old career. Oppenheimer said the fact that the Arc will again be run this year at Chantilly, a tighter track than its normal home of Longchamp which is being redeveloped, was a factor in the decision. ‘It had a lot to do with Chantilly itself,’ he said. ‘If it was at Longchamp, where the track is wider and the bends are not as tight, it may have been an easier decision.’ One contender seemingly on course for Champions Day at Ascot is Karl Burke’s Quiet Reflection. The dual Group One winner got an injury-hit season back on track with victory in the Renaissance Stakes at Naas yesterday. She will now take on Harry Angel in the Champion Sprint. Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien has a team of seven to choose from for Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. With opposition to Enable apparently thin on the ground, O’Brien seems intent on giving himself the strongest possibility of following up last year’s success with Found. Among his classy septet are last year’s second and third, Highland Reel and Order Of St George, as well as multiple Group One scorer Winter (who has yet to run over a mile and a half) and Irish Derby and St Leger hero Capri. ‘We are going to leave seven in the Arc tomorrow,’ said O’Brien. ‘Order Of St George, Idaho, Highland Reel, Capri, Winter, Seventh Heaven and Cliffs Of Moher. ‘That’s what we are going to leave in and we will decide after that.’