Golden chance
Draw no worry for Dettori as he plots to stop Treve in Arc
FRANKIE Dettori has backed the adaptability of Golden Horn to help him overcome a tough wide draw in tomorrow’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
The John Gosden-trained Derby winner has been drawn in stall 14 of 18 for a race where l ow- number stalls generally have the edge.
In the 14 runnings this century, only three winners have started from a doubledigit stall but one of them was Dettori-ridden Sakhee, who was drawn 15 of 17 in 2001.
Golden Horn was held up for a late charge when winning the Dante Stakes at York and the Derby at Epsom. But Dettori made the running on the colt when successful i n the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes.
Dettori, riding in his 27th Arc and chasing a recordequalling fourth win, said: ‘I would have loved a singlefigure number but Golden Horn is very versatile. We will have to go with what we have got. What I do will all depend on what happens when the stalls open. John and I will have a plan.
‘In the Arc sometimes you have to improvise because you do not know what is going to happen.’
History-seeking dual-winner Treve has also won the Arc from a wide berth, having triumped from stall 15 of 17 in 2013. But the hot favourite for the £2.2million first prize has been handed a start from favourable stall eight, with her pacemaker Shahah close to the inside rail in stall two.
Andre Fabre’s French Derby winner New Bay, Treve’s other big market rival, will start from five.
A dry week in Paris has been presented by some as a negative to odds-on favourite Treve. But it would be wrong to believe the ground is going to dry out too much. There is also the possibility of light rain tomorrow. She will be very tough to beat at her favourite track and there is a relaxed confidence i n the camp of trainer Criquette Head-Maarek.
Six of Treve’s opponents were behind her last year when she came into the Arc off three defeats and was allowed to start at odds of 11-1. She has won all three races this season. If she is to be beaten it will be most likely by i mpressive New Bay. The vibes from the stable of French champion trainer Fabre, who is seeking his eighth race win, are positive. CHANNEL 4 will show five races tomorrow, starting with the Prix Marcel Boussac at 1pm and concluding with the Prix de L’Abbaye at 3.40.