Ce n'est pas une course, c'est un monument - Sunday Arc

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 6:52 pm

It Is Not So Much A Race As A Monument

Familiar with this promotional poster for the European best 2&1/2 minute grass event ? This year, that 1st Sunday falls on
Oct 3.

A field of probably 17 horses will chase behind the rabbit carrying a bag of 8 million greenbacks, the world's biggest.

Workforce, new UK Derby record time winner, will be eyed closely. Can he join the league of other 4 stars to accomplish
this cross double (Sea The Stars, Sinddar, Lammtarra, Mill Reef) ? But he is not the most favored at the ticket machines.

Fame And Glory finally has got a chance to gallop away from the Sea The Stars shadow, with the credential of 4 group
wins on his saddle including the Coronation Cup.

Surprisingly the top pick goes to the Cape Cross 3 yo son Behkabad, the Grand Prix De Paris winner. CC's prominent son
Sea The Stars of course won the race last year this time.

One familiar face will show up for the 3rd time in a row this year, Youmzain that is. He has been the 1st runner-up twice.
3rd time lucky ? I doubt so. He was a very distant 3rd, by 14 lengths, to Harbinger in the King Geroge with only 6 starters
in the entire field.

Any chance for the 4th favored Planteur ? He was beaten by Lope De Vega in french deby, finishing 3 lengths behind 2nd.

Lope De Vega is also in the field. He is impressive and has won both french derby and 2000 Guineas. Like to see if he will
become one of the coveted triple crowners in late October.

Winless Cavalryman is again back to the field. Also run.

Cape Blanco has won both the derby and champion stakes in Ireland but, like Youmzain, was beaten badly to 2nd by
Harbinger, by a devastating 11 lengths. He is a 3yo son of the talented Galileo. I wont rule him out.

Harbinger, and this year's European wonder lady, Midday are likely out of the field.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:04 pm

Thanks for your thoughtful analysis.

erins isle · Postby **erins isle** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:43 pm

According to the Racing Post Youmzain worked very well on sunday.

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:16 am

Certainly..This Sinndar colt has run top 3 in 70% of his 31 career runs to date..He will be 7 and a half year by Oct 3..that might be a factor.

A 12f specialist notwithstanding. Won 6 and finished 8 times 2nd and 3rd. Raced the last 22 times in G1 from Sep 24 2006 (3+). In June he
was nosed out on the pole in the G1 Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud by Plumania. Returned 3-2-4-8 for his 4 starts this year.

Godolphin stable has a respectable success rate in the Arc...with 14 wins, 1 2nd and 4 3rd from total 57 entries. Out 0f their 14 winners,
7 are 4-year old. The oldest winners are 5-year old (3).

For the past 88 Arc runs : 55 winners are 3-year old, 25 4-year old, 7 5-year old, 0 6-year old and 1 7-year old.

RuffianT21 · Postby **RuffianT21** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 8:17 pm

I believe that Youmzain has actually finished second in the past *3* runnings of the Arc-- behind Dylan Thomas, Zardana, and Sea the Stars. Certainly seems worth a place bet at least.

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:40 am

RuffianT21 wrote:I believe that Youmzain has actually finished second in the past *3* runnings of the Arc-- behind Dylan Thomas, Zardana, and Sea the Stars. Certainly seems worth a place bet at least.

Boy..You are right pal..got 3 times 2nd oredi...thanks...I perused his racing list many times..but strangely I just stay betrayed by my own memory.

With 3 2s will it be fair to credit him with a notional win in Arc ? All of the 3 conquerers are HOY (2 under Cartier Award and 1 under Eclipse Award).
He lost to Dylan Thomas by a head, to Zarkava by 2 lenths, to Sea The Stars also by 2 lengths... add these together is just a little more than 5
lengths.

Amazing !!! But age has caught up.

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:33 am

It's a great day's racing in a great city and should be on every racing lover's bucket list. I was there when Rainbow Quest won by dq over the French favourite. Every race on the card is a beauty and the enthusiasm and atmosphere is top class. Dress up for the day or you may feel out of place.

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:29 am

Glad to learn wilf is globe-trotter for big races....nowadays with wilder coverage by media..can watch weightlessly
on home sofa...wine in one hand..cheese in the other hand. :lol:

Carlo Algatrensig · Postby **Carlo Algatrensig** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:18 am

RuffianT21 wrote:I believe that Youmzain has actually finished second in the past *3* runnings of the Arc-- behind Dylan Thomas, Zardana, and Sea the Stars. Certainly seems worth a place bet at least.

I'm wondering if there has ever been a horse that has had more 2nd places in the same Group/Grade 1 race than Youmzain has had in the Arc. There probably is but I cant think of one and perhaps if he gets another 2nd this year the french will have to start calling him the eternal second aswell as Raymond Poulidor

Jorge · Postby **Jorge** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 9:41 pm

chicago78 · Postby **chicago78** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:35 am

I'm going to my first Arc on Sunday and probably the Arc sale on Saturday night looking forward to it!

Patuxet · Postby **Patuxet** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:12 am

When was the last time a US bred and raced horse contested the Arc?

I remember Carry Back ran in it and Tom Rolfe ran sixth in Sea Bird's Arc. Can't think of any since.

I always wondered why Paul Mellon didn't give it a try with Fort Marcy and Arts and Letters.

Daisy Jal Dastur · Postby **Daisy Jal Dastur** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:18 am

chicago78 wrote:I'm going to my first Arc on Sunday and probably the Arc sale on Saturday night looking forward to it!

Have fun! I love the Arc sale... couple of nice ones this year - alas, I'll be watching the sale on the net and not is beautiful St. Cloud!

erins isle · Postby **erins isle** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:13 am

Chicago I hope you have a lovely weekend, I was there in 1982, but was rather dissappointed not to see the finish very clearly, I was way up high. I love to see the BBC program, but the atmosphere on the racecourse itself is great!

siegy · Postby **siegy** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:32 am

erins isle wrote:Chicago I hope you have a lovely weekend, I was there in 1982, but was rather dissappointed not to see the finish very clearly, I was way up high. I love to see the BBC program, but the atmosphere on the racecourse itself is great!

Hi E,

found memories from friends lake could be of some help.

Siegy, :wink: