Seventh win would mean everything to Frankie

FRANKIE DETTORI says it ‘would mean everything’ to him if he can land a seventh win in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp tomorrow. The 51-year-old Italian, who will ride Torquator Tasso, has won the €5million race more times than anyone. When Dettori jumps on board last year’s winner, it will be the only day he is allowed to race in a 20-day period. Dettori picked up a 14-day suspension for a breach of the whip rules in Germany and then a five-day careless riding ban at Doncaster. The only reason he can ride is that there is no Flat racing in Britain tomorrow. During his period of inactivity, Dettori flew to Germany on Tuesday to ride Torquator Tasso at the base of trainer Marcel Weiss. It was an invaluable experience, with Dettori learning a few of Torquator Tasso’s idiosyncratic traits, something crucial given the colt is drawn wide in stall 18 in the 20-runner field. With the ground very soft at Longchamp, Weiss’s charge, an outsider 12 months ago, could be sent off favourite this time round. Dettori, who has only missed riding in the Arc twice since 1998, said on his Sporting Index blog: ‘The Arc is a race I love. I have been lucky enough to win it six times but a seventh would mean everything. ‘Torquator Tasso is in great shape and any rain will help. The draw isn’t ideal but it is a very open race and I am very happy to be on a tough five-year-old.’ The draw has been kind to Britain’s leading hope Alpinista, only the second Arc runner for Newmarket trainer Mark Prescott in his 52-year training career. Luke Morris’s mount, housed in six, comes into the race on a seven-race winning streak. Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg is also drawn well in stall eight. His half-length win from Onesto on soft ground in last month’s Irish Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter was impressive and his pedigree suggests the extra half-mile will be no problem under Ryan Moore. Onesto, despite the result at Leopardstown, looks a solid French-trained hope, given he won the Grand Prix de Paris in July over the Arc course and distance, while Ralph Beckett’s Irish Derby winner Westover has a chance if he can bounce back from his disappointing run in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Japan’s four strong contenders are led by Titleholder.