WINTER’S EARLY FOR MOORE
WINTER could make a surprise appearance in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next month.
Not only that, Ladbrokes expect Ryan Moore to ride the Nassau Stakes winner should she run at Chantilly.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Ryan Moore will have a tricky decision deciding which of Aidan O’Brien’s to ride in the Arc, but if Winter shows up, we are convinced he will favour the dual Guineas heroine.”
The news of her possible participation comes as a surprise as Winter has a miler’s pedigree.
Her Nassau success at Glorious Goodwood is the only time Winter has raced beyond a mile and that was over 10 furlongs.
The Arc is over an extra quarter of a mile and there would not be too many dual 1,000 Guineas winners that have run in the race.
Enable’s position at the head of the market explains why Ladbrokes go odds-on at 4-7 that the winner of the Chantilly showpiece is trained in the UK.
An Irish winner of the Arc is 7-2 and the chance of a local winner is put at 7-1.
One of the shortest-priced French horses was out on the Chantilly gallops at the crack of dawn yesterday.
Although there was barely enough light to make out Zarak, Alain Royer-Dupre was very pleased with what he saw.
“He worked really well,” said the trainer of the Aga Khan’s four-year-old.
“He is supple and moved like a horse who is ready. If I had to run him this Sunday there would be no problem. He will do something ® similar again next week, perhaps over slightly shorter. He has already run well at Chantilly, including when he was second in our Derby, so I have no worries on that score.
“In terms of ground he wouldn’t want it heavy. There are several very good horses in opposition – as you would expect – so he will need to be at his best if he is to win.”
Yesterday’s feature race at Galway was won by the heavily-pregnant Airlie Beach.
The seven-year-old mare started off in a Kilbeggan bumper in August 2015. She was sent to Mount Nelson to be covered before going back in training with Willie Mullins and winning her first six races over hurdles.
Second to Apple’s Jade in a Grade One on her 10th start of the jumps season, she was covered again before a third in the E250,000 Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Yesterday’s Listed win means she retires with black type on the Flat and over hurdles. Not even Annie Power or Quevega managed that.
Ladbrokes’ Arc de Triomphe odds: Evs Enable, 6 Cracksman, 8 Ulysses, 12 Winter, Order Of St George, Highland Reel, Brametot, 14 Satono Diamond, Capri, Dschingis Secret, 16 others.
Who will Ryan Moore ride in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe?
7-4 Winter, 5-2 Highland Reel, 3 Capri, 4 Order Of St George, 20 Any other horse (Bets void if no ride).
Which country will the winner of the Prix de L’arc Triomphe be trained in?
4-7 United Kingdom, 7-2 Ireland, 7 France, 14 Germany, 16 Japan.