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Arc de Triomphe final field and draw information as 16 horses declared for ParisLongchamp feature

By Sporting Life
16:04 · THU October 03, 2024

Bluestocking and Sunway will represent British interests in the 16-strong field for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

Drawn in stall three, the Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking was supplemented for the Group One spectacular on Wednesday at a cost of €120,000 for owners Juddmonte, having landed the Prix Vermeille over the Arc course and distance last month.

David Menuisier’s Sunway was a winner at the highest level as a juvenile but has failed to hit similar heights this term, most recently finishing third in the St Leger, and will have to contend with an outside draw in 15.

Prix du Jockey Club victor Look De Vega (eight) is at the head of the betting, despite suffering defeat at the hands of the reopposing Sosie (five) in the Prix Niel when last seen.

The latter is one of three contenders for trainer Andre Fabre with Mqse De Sevigne, winner of each of her four starts this term including three successive Group Ones, and Sevenna’s Knight also taking part.

Mqse De Sevigne will race from widest of all in stall 16 and Sevenna’s Knight will be in 12.

Aidan O’Brien is represented by Irish Derby victor Los Angeles (10) and last year’s Leger hero Continuous (14), but has taken out Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg. His son Joseph fields Al Riffa (nine), winner of a German Group One last time out.

The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor (11) is the latest Japanese runner to bid for Arc glory, with Delius, Aventure, Fantastic Moon, Zarakem, Survie and Haya Zark completing the field.

2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe draw

  1. Zarakem
  2. Fantastic Moon
  3. Bluestocking
  4. Aventure
  5. Sosie
  6. Survie
  7. Delius
  8. Look De Vega
  9. Al Riffa
  10. Los Angeles
  11. Shin Emperor
  12. Sevenna's Knight
  13. Haya Zark
  14. Continuous
  15. Sunway
  16. Mqse De Sevigne

READ: Matt Brocklebank's preview and tip

Fantastic Moon’s Arc bid hinges on suitable ground

Connections will wait until the eleventh hour to give Fantastic Moon’s bid for the Arc the go-ahead.

The four-year-old, who is trained by Sarah Steinberg, is Germany’s leading racehorse with six Group titles to his name for owners Liberty Racing.

Those include successes in the German Derby and the Prix Niel last year, the former seeing him emulate his sire, Sea The Moon, and the latter lining up a bid for the 2023 renewal of the Arc.

Twelve months ago the ground at ParisLongchamp was good to soft, conditions a little too testing for the bay colt to be seen at his best as he finished 11th in a field of 15.

He has returned this season in good form, however, winning a Group Two at Cologne before missing out on the Group One Grosser Dallmayr-Preis by a length at Munich.

After winning the Grosser Preis von Baden on his next start the Arc came into focus again for Fantastic Moon, but with a wet start to the autumn his participation is not guaranteed unless the ground dries out ahead of Sunday.

“At this moment it is 50-50, we will wait for the ground on Sunday morning,” said Liberty Racing’s Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten.

“We hope for for 3.5 on the French going stick, more than 3.6 is not good for him to bring his A-game so if the ground is more than 3.6, we will not run.

“We will decide on Sunday morning, if we get rain on Sunday we will wait to decide, perhaps after the first race or the second race.

“We will wait a very, very long time to decide because it’s a very good Arc, we have a great horse in the race and we need fair ground for him.

“It is possible because we have sun Friday and Saturday as well, if we do not get rain it is possible, I think 50-50.

“If not we will go to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, that’s our plan B.”

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