Qatar Prix De L'Arc Weekend - Day 1 Review

Sea La Rosa finally got her deserved Group 1 under a fantastic ride from Tom Marquand, as the pair took the Qatar Prix De Royallieu.

Sea La Rosa and Tom Marquand on their way to a fine victory in the Qatar Prix Royallieu

Photo: Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images

Emulating a family tradition, of which notably her father Sea The Stars won the 2009 Arc and his mother the 1993 running, she fended off the late challenge of Jannah Flower to score by just under a length, a further head back to Ottilien and a neck to Emily Dickinson, who stayed on stoutly but could never land a blow.

Pre race talk was all about the reigning Melbourne Cup heroine in Verry Elleegant, and how she had been rerouted to the race due to an issue regarding her official rating. She was destined, much to the dismay of connections, to miss the cut for the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe due to her rating not being high enough to guarantee a spot in the final 20, even after they had come up with the supplementary fee on Tuesday week.

A lot of hot air was let out during the week on the issue, and the course may have been in need of it as the ground became very deep and testing. In the case for connections of Verry Elleegant, the mare could not quite get going on the conditions at Longchamp, with a never nearer seventh the most she could fare.

It was despair for trainer Francis Graffard, who lamented the ill-fortune that had beset the mare in the week of the race and the subsequent harrowed media attention.

“Everything we didn’t want happened…. Everything went against us”, he sighed as he spoke to the assembled press afterwards. Moreover, the inevitable talk of retirement came, with connections remaining mute on the subject. Even the jockey was unsure as to what next lies in store for the mare, simply replying “I don’t know” when questioned on if it was retirement or the Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in a fortnight for her.

It was a different kettle of fish on the other side of the coin, with connections of the winner overjoyed at the performance.

Winning owner Christopher Tsui was in jubilant mood, declaring “it’s provided a lot of emotion”.

Sea La Rosa and Tom Marquand on their way to a fine victory in the Qatar Prix Royallieu

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

“I recall those moments, almost 30 years ago… accompanied by my father. I witnessed the success of Urban Sea in the Arc….. this story began with her and it has snowballed via Sea The Stars and his daughters”.

“"t is always great to come back to Longchamp on Arc weekend. This meeting has always been good to us”.

“I can tell you my heart was racing!"

When we have seen the rise of one mare, we may have seen the last on a racecourse of another. Whatever the future holds for both, it must be rosy for them, whichever route they take.

Al Qareem made it a great start for the British contingent as he took the Qatar Prix Chaudenay under a powerful, confident ride from Ryan Moore for trainer Karl Burke and owners Nick Bradley Racing 33 & Burke.

Ryan Moore and Al Qareem fend off Sober and Maxime Guyon in the Prix Chaudenay

Photo: Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images

Settled near the front, he travelled well despite running keenly for most of the journey, fending off stoutly the efforts of Sober and Duke De Sessa to score by a nose, having been headed with 400m to run but battling back bravely under his masterful pilot.

All talk pre race seemed to be on La Mehana, who was backed into 7/5F after winning her last 3 races, but she could only finish 5th as the leaders ground away at the almost two mile trip, tenaciously fighting to the line without giving any quarter.

Sousak and Anthony Crastus took the Haras De Bouquetot for trainer J Reynier and owner Nurlan Bizakov, from the fast finishing Denmark of Aiden O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.

The winner had set sail for home quite soon into the straight and just lasted home from the Irish challenger, who was flying on the outside. Whilst he could not quite get to the winner in time, it was still an eye catching run from a horse who holds some exciting entries for next year, including the Derby and Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Denmark therefore, was the one to take from the race. With bigger targets on the horizon, and one perhaps in the Vertem Futurity in a couple of weeks at Doncaster, this run was more eyecatching than others seem to realise.

Anmaat continued the fine form of the British challengers in the Qatar Prix Dollar, with the Owen Burrows trained son of Awtaad overhauling the efforts of Junko to deny the home team in the last strides under Jim Crowley.

Anmaat and Jim Crowley in battle with Junko and Maxime Guyon for the Prix Dollar

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Sitting comfortably behind Addeybb as the field swung into the straight, he began to assert with just over a furlong to run. Junko however came on the outside and threatened to gatecrash the party, only for his rival to collar back the lead and score by just under a head.

Owen Burrows has had a season full of ups and downs. Minzaal scored in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, but was forced to retire after suffering a slab injury that would have certainly curtailed his season at least, had he not been destined to head to the breeding sheds thereafter.

And another star in Hukum may join him in retirement, however his injury during his victory in the Coronation Cup at Epsom may turn out to only be season ending, with retirement plans still undecided as of yet.

Anmaat provided his connections with another top dollar performance at Longchamp. Worth the hard times, for the good times that flow.

Anmaat and Jim Crowley in battle with Junko and Maxime Guyon for the Prix Dollar

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Erevann is the latest star to come from the connections of owner His Highness The Aga Khan and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, and he showcased his utmost calibre of talent in the famous colours when taking the Prix Daniel Wildenstein by 1 and a half lengths from The Revenant.

Erevann - is the winner of the Prix Daniel Wildenstein the new big French star?

Photo: Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images

All the attention of the last 24 hours had been on his jockey Christophe Soumillon, who had elbowed his rival Rossa Ryan out of the saddle the previous day at Saint-Cloud, drawing widespread condemnation and almost shaming the sport of French horse racing on the eve of it’s most revered centrepiece.

He delivered on the day however, and on a particularly exciting horse. Having been third in the Prix Group 1 Jacques le Marois at Deauville on his most previous of starts, the son of Dubawi and Ervedya delivered in taking fashion when dropped down to Group 2, suggesting a return to the top level is well within his range and grasp.

Erevann and jockey Christophe Soumillon after their impressive victory

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Settled at the back, Christophe switched him to the rail as the field swung for home, and he just kept going in imperious fashion, scoring rather cosily from The Revenant, with Soumillon casually congratulating his horse as they crossed the line.

It suggested that there was plenty more in the tank for this 3 year old, and indeed the trainer has earmarked the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot as an early season target for his charge.

“This will be a proper horse next year”, he reflected after the comfortable victory.

It will be a long jumps season in the UK before then, but whilst it is full of quality action from now until the 2:30 on Tuesday 20th June 2023, this will be one for Flat fans to prosper in the coming months.

*Quotes from connections are correlated from the writers, France Galop, Racing Post & Sportinglife*