Moore faces Arc dilemma
RYAN MOORE could have another difficult choice ahead of the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe a week on Sunday, with trainer Aidan O’Brien saying that he is considering including his top filly, Winter, in a large Chantilly raiding party.
O’Brien made history in the 2016 Arc when Found’s victory over stablemates Highland Reel and Order Of St George made him the first trainer to saddle the first three home.
Highland Reel and Order Of St George, winner of the Irish Leger eight days ago under Moore, are on course to return to Chantilly.
They could be joined by Seventh Heaven and Capri, whose win in Saturday’s St Leger at Doncaster enabled Moore to complete a fullhouse of wins in the British Classics. But it will be O’Brien’s assertion that he could run Winter that could shake up the picture.
The talented grey has won both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas plus Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes over a mile this season and the 10-furlong Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. But she has never raced over a mile and a half, the Arc’s distance.
Winter was beaten by stablemate Hydrangea in last weekend’s Matron Stakes at Leopardstown but O’Brien said Winter had an interrupted preparation.
‘We needed to run Winter on Irish Champions weekend if she was going to run at the Arc meeting. We are thinking about the Arc for Order of St George and if there was ease in the ground that would be all the better for him. Highland Reel and Seventh Heaven are also in the picture with Cliffs of Moher and Idaho.’
By winning all the British Classics, Moore’s joins greats like Willie Carson, Pat Eddery, Joe Mercer, Gordon Richards and Lester Piggott.