St Leger hero on course to make Arc history

Three weeks after winning the world’s oldest Classic in a record time, Gosden – one of the country’s shrewdest trainers – is certainly not travelling to France to make up the numbers.

Financier Bjorn Neilsen had to pay £100,000 for the privilege of supplementng his colt in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Europe’s richest race.

The decision was only taken after the forecast firm ground at Longchamp prompted Gosden not to chance his King George hero Nathaniel in the battle for European supremacy. Next month’s Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot is his target.

Gosden, and stable jockey William Buick, clearly believe Masked Marvel’s Doncaster triumph did not leave its mark and that Sunday’s ground conditions will be comparable to those that they experienced on Town Moor.

The most dynamic trainer and jockey combination on the Flat, they will have prepared thoroughly for their audacious attempt at racing history when they attempt to go one better than the Lester Piggott-inspired Alleged, who won the 1977 Arc – the first of successive wins – after finishing second to the Queen’s Dunfermline at Doncaster.

Conversely, in 1992, User Friendly – ridden by Yorkshire jockey George Duffield – won the St Leger before finishing second to Subotica in France.

A Masked Marvel victory would also help to re-establish the St Leger’s pre-eminence – the contest has lost some of its status and prestige in recent years and could be further squeezed when the Qipco Champions Day is brought forward in the racing calendar next year.

Another entry given the green light was Snow Fairy, last year’s Oaks heroine.

Ed Dunlop’s globe-trotter gave Aidan O’Brien’s So You Think, well-backed for Sunday, a huge fright in the Irish Champion Stakes and really came into her own at this stage of the season last year, winning two huge prizes in the Far East.

Frankie Dettori has replaced Ryan Moore in the saddle for her last two races and has enjoyed many big-race successes with Dunlop, including one of Ouija Board’s wins at the Breeders’ Cup.

Incredibly, this will be Dettori’s 24th successive Arc appearance – a sequence that dates back to 1988 when, as a rookie 17-year-old apprentice, he rode the Fulke Johnson Houghton-trained Roushayd.

The last of Dettori’s three Arc victories came on Marienbard in 2002 and the Italian, now a weighing-room veteran at 40, has been eclipsed more recently by the emergence, amongst others, of the ice-cool Buick.

With the sun shining all week in Paris, ground conditions are set to be in Snow Fairy’s favour leading Dunlop to tweet: “Decision made SF runs in the Arc!! Exciting or what and Frankie rides!!”

One person unhappy with the unseasonably fast ground is Sir Michael Stoute as last year’s winner Workforce, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, attempts to become the first horse to win successive renewals since Alleged 33 years ago.

Workforce has not been seen since finishing second to Gosden’s Nathaniel in the King George.

“I’ve been really happy with his preparation, but disappointed to hear about the weather forecast because he’s a big heavy horse and we do like good ground for him,” explained Stoute.

“We’re a long way from it at the moment and someone’s going to have a look at the track and give us an update. I am concerned about the ground.

“We’re very happy with his condition and it looks a particularly strong renewal of the Arc this year.

“It’s disappointing we’re having this Indian summer in Paris.

“He’s had a nice break after the King George, like he did last year, and I’ve been very happy with his preparation.”

Another conscious of the ground conditions is Alain de Royer-Dupre, who reports ante-post favourite Sarafina in top shape as she bids to improve on her third place 12 months ago.

“The Arc was the target from the beginning of the season. She has not run that much. She is ready and fresh,” said the French handler. “She was third in the race last year and it was a terrible race for her – she came from last to finish quickly – and we are afraid about the pace again.

“She doesn’t need too much work and is easy to train. She has a great ability to pass horses in a short space of time – she has a turn of foot. This year she looks more mature but her weight is the same and she looks the same.

“We are looking at the sky though – Longchamp can be very firm. You can damage a horse at Longchamp when the ground is very firm.

“If she runs well, she could go for the Breeders’ Cup Turf against the colts, it will give her more time over 12 furlongs.”

Royer-Dupre also has Reliable Man and Shareta still in the race, but warns he may withdraw the former if it remains dry.