2025 Qatar Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe

Last update on the Japanese:

Northern Cross: the quiet force

Trained by Takashi Saito, who has already had a starter in the Arc (Chrono Genesis in 2021), Croix du Nord has the physique of a 4-year-old... but has only 3. Tall and athletic, the son of Kitasan Black arrives from Japan with a certain reputation since he is none other than the winner of the Japanese Derby. And his victorious comeback, in the Prix du Prince d'Orange (Gr. III), without being at the top, seduced. A negative point? Perhaps his lack of experience would be tempting to write, but his mentor refutes this point of view: « Lammtarra had run little before winning the Arc and I am not worried about that. » The stage is set. Seventh with Chrono Genesis four years ago, the Japanese coach learned from this defeat: “I had been disappointed by this result. I had a lot of remorse afterwards. But this remorse serves me today and I am delighted and proud to come back to try our luck in the Arc with Croix du Nord. He has a morphology that is a weapon for him and his preparation went well. Four years ago, I thought that Chrono Genesis had arrived on the Arc in the best possible conditions. After the race, I realized that the training might have been a bit too hard. For four years, I have also traveled a lot and I learned a lot through my travels, but also through the different horses that I had to train. All this allows me to arrive with confidence for this event. Of course, there is always a doubt about the state of the ground, but the ground was soft last time in Longchamp and he ran well. If the land were to be as it was on September 14, it should go well. On the other hand, we must not lose sight of the fact that Daryz really finished very well that day... and we will have to be wary.

You could really her these breathing as they worked and his nostrils were going after….

A warning for anyone who uses the RP ratings (RPR) table for the race. There are lots of mistakes and I advise all who use this table to make adjustments.

Can you be anymore specific to us who aren’t scientists Sandown please? P.s. you happy with the draws for yours?

What is the rule 4 likely to be?

Best example is Minnie Hauk in the table shown as 124 , which is the rating for its last race and is not adjusted for WFA as many if not most are. There are other examples. So beware!

Cheers - I don’t use them anyway! ;) ;)

6 is a good draw for Leffard clearly as apparently it  (6) has had the most wins, but I think bringing it down to a single number is not sensible statistically.

Staitistically speaking, low numbers (1-10) are favoured whilst higher numbers are not but a top jockey can nullify that disadvantage so Murphy may be able to do so on Byzantine Dream for example.

Thanks Sandown, the above was a joke about before, but I do look at different ratings. I agree about a good jock overcoming it.

The Racing Post is sloppy. I think the highest rated ought to be Kalpana.

I think one of the Japanese inmates could do it this year. And, given the negative press for Mr Murphy about his drinking / crashing it could fall to his mount Byzantine Dream.

I think Los Angeles would go forward; Minnie Hauk sitting a few places behind or mod-division; Aventure probably infront of White Birch and Kalpana - both hold up horses.

"inmates"

Thanks Delashay , yes was most impressed in the Foy , not sure how Sosie can be trading shorter with a start and first run , but I know little .

No worries Paul, I’ve just seen more write ups!

The trainer of Crox De Nord reckons he’s in better shape now than when he won the Derby! Yikes!

Why’s the market not up?

Three reasons why Sosie is trading shorter:

1) Fabre Factor
2) The low draw (below 8)
3) Vs The high draw of Byzantine Dream

The beautiful gray one will not be at ParisLongchamp on Sunday. Second by Minni Hauk in the Yorkshire Oaks (Gr. I), on 21 August, Estrange will finally not be lining up at the start of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe although his entourage had validated his participation on Thursday morning. Chris Richardson, the manager of Cheveley Park, confided the reasons to : “The coach called me late in the morning to tell me that his work was not what was expected. She went to do some exams and her scope did not come back quite clear. Even with number 18 in the starting stalls, we wanted to come and we had booked everything. We are very disappointed. If this slight setback is forgotten, the trained by David O'Meara could fall back on the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes in Ascot at the end of October, the first option considered this summer.



Yeah right.

The news of the bad work was delivered by carrier pidgeon!

market is up, and Estrange nr

Cheers John

Judging by the prices, more nonners are expected. 101% on the right.
What's the safety limit? Surely more than 18?

As I wrote that, the 101% on the right was laid.
That can be dangerous though.

I thought that there might be more, there are other targets

It’s 23 or something well below that even at 18 -1

Yeah. So they all have a place.
I'm guessing the market is discounting another 2 nonners at least.
I don't know which are the most likely. Mark probably does, though.

Botti will be checking the ground the Gia

A few were drifting last night and here’s how the ground was described by one set of connections during work, “…kicking up the heavy ground…”

With Ascot only 2 weeks post The Arc some trainers will be watching the ground with interest. I'm not surprised Appleby has not contemplated running Trawlerman in The Cadran tomorrow even though he'd walk all over the competitors.

Gemini AI prediction of rainfall in Paris


Friday, October 3 (Today):

Forecasts indicate periods of rain, with one source mentioning cloudy with rain at times this afternoon and another showing light rain for both the day and night.

One source predicts hourly precipitation of 0.8 mm followed by 0.3 mm early in the morning on October 3rd, but the total for the day is not explicitly given in most summaries.

Saturday, October 4 (Tomorrow):

The forecast generally indicates partly cloudy conditions but also includes a 50% chance of rain during the day and a 15% chance of rain at night.


One forecast explicitly states it will be dry with no precipitation, though this contradicts the precipitation chance.

Another source shows 0 mm precipitation in its hourly forecast for early Saturday.

Sunday, October 5:


Forecasts suggest partly cloudy to mostly cloudy weather.

The chance of rain is lower, with a 20% chance of rain during the day and a 10% chance of rain at night.

One hourly forecast also shows 0 mm precipitation.

In summary:

The forecast suggests that Friday has the highest likelihood of rain, with rain likely to fall in the afternoon and evening. Saturday has a moderate chance of rain during the day, and Sunday has the lowest chance of rain. Specific total precipitation amounts for each day are not consistently available across the sources, but the weather for Saturday and Sunday is expected to be generally drier than Friday.

It feels very English to be discussing the weekends weather!

Neither too good. Nor too soft. The terrain proposed this Arc de Triomphe weekend at the ParisLongchamp racecourse should suit everyone. Site manager, Charles de Cordon took stock of the situation: “Friday morning, the penetrometer showed 3.3 (good flexible) and the GoingStick 8.4. There was no morning dew.

The forecast is less alarmist than at the beginning of the week. It is announced between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, approximately 10 mm. And after more rain from the weekend. If this is true, the ground will be soft to very soft for Saturday and also for Sunday because the ground no longer dries up because the sun is not strong enough. I think the penetrometer on Sunday will be between 3.5 and 3.9”.

If on Saturday the rail will be placed at fifteen meters, the horses on Sunday will evolve with a run to zero, an almost new track and an open-stretch placed 450 meters from the post. Charles de Cordon also returned to the work done this summer on the false straight line: « The track is much more homogeneous than before. This will take off a little further in the false straight line because the rooting is younger but it makes sense. We are satisfied with the work carried out. Thursday, a fifty of Japanese journalists came to the Longchamp track and they were delighted. They are fine connoisseurs.

Those horses who may not appreciate soft in the description include Croix du Nord[(also has drawn 17), Byzantine Dream (drawn 15) Giovellotto (drawn 5).

A note of caution though. As I pointed out earlier, French going descriptions are notoriously inaccurate vs British descriptions, and because of the 15 meteres fresh ground, it is always faster on Arc day unless there is a hevy downpoour on the day. That isn't looking likely.

I’m wiring ‘till see tomoz Sandown, far too much uncertainty and confusion. On ATR Declan rix was saying it’s good to firm, I can’t believe that.

All the times at Saint Cloud today are slow.

Trainer’s view:

Aidan O’Brien: "We’re very happy with her. She’s done everything we’ve asked of her since York. Christophe sat on her last week. That was his first time on her and he was very happy. She’s happy to go forward and really uncomplicated. She’s a good, strong traveller."

Is she the pacemaker for Los Angels?

She’s won two Oaks doesn’t have to do anything, Los Angles made the running last year and went too early….

Jockey Cristian Demuro, who has twice captured the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe aboard Sottsass (2020) and Ace Impact (2023), will seek a third victory in the race with Leffard, winner of the Grand Prix de Paris on good ground.

However, the colt disappointed last time out in the Prix Niel, finishing sixth as the favourite. Asked if the softer going played a role, Demuro dismissed the idea, "No, the ground had nothing to do with it. He was still coming forward in his condition," he explained, citing fitness as the main factor. Looking ahead to Sunday, he remained cautious, "If everything falls into place like it did in the Grand Prix de Paris, then he can run well."

Assessing the opposition, Demuro added, "There are many talented horses. I think Aventure is very strong."

Doesn’t look like any good ground there, winner of the Chaudenay said very soft.

On times so far, it is soft ground. Tomorrow, on fresh ground, with no more rain, it should ride Good to soft at worst. But todays times so far are on distance races. I need to look at later races to confirm.

Ground update. The  2 yr race over 8f won by Cape Orator suggests that 8f at least the ground is good to soft. The 4.35 is over 10f so that should give another view.

1min 42 over a mile. Is there a headwind?
As that looks like soft ground times to me.

Not sure that we need times to see it’s not good there.


Fighting talk from Maxim

With the clock ticking down to the big day, Japanese challengers face a formidable rival in jockey Maxime Guyon, who partners last year's runner-up and leading fancy Aventure in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Guyon made his intentions crystal clear, "I'm absolutely going to beat them." Final declarations of horse number, barrier number, and riders were confirmed on October 2.

"I'm absolutely determined to beat them," Guyon said with a grin when asked about the Japanese trio, though he acknowledged their threat. "Every year Japan brings very good horses, and this year all three won their prep races. But the ground could be key, if it rains and turns heavy, that will be a big factor." With showers forecast for Friday and Saturday in Paris, the prospect of soft ground could play against the Japanese runners.

For Aventure, however, such conditions are no problem at all. "She's very straightforward and can handle any surface. Her Vermeille win was strong, and she was runner-up here last year. She's gained experience since then and has strengthened up," Guyon explained confidently. The jockey himself has twice finished second in the Arc (with Flintshire in 2014 and 2015), and now seeks a first triumph. His mission in this year's edition is clear, to repel not just the Japanese threat, but every challenger lining up at Longchamp.

Delashay • October 4, 2025 5:41 PM BST
I had written this write up some time ago long before she became a steamer in the market. The ground looks to have gone against her, if we take her trainers comments for real.

Originally Aventure was due to run in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet, it was seen as her chance for her first Group 1 win. The official line was that that and the Vermielle came too close together to take in both - (think they were two weeks apart).

Dig a little deeper and go back to the 1m 4f race that Quisisana won with ease, the PRIX PAWNEESE last year and look who was in the saddle - A certain Maxim Goyen.

https://www.aprh.fr/reportage/2/82512/chantilly-16-06-2024-6eme-course-prix-pawneese-longines-l-r-fonds-europeen-de-l-elevage/1?asPageNew=1

(Hope that the above link posts in full)

It was a big field and he looked quite impressed and if you can see the race you can see him looking over his shoulder and at the big screen as he put 5 lengths on the field.

That same opposition Iznik & Ottery though no superstars faced Aventure in their next race the Prix de Pomone.

Quisisana was receiving 3lb from them during that route whereas Aventure was getting the 3 year old allowance (9lb)

Simon Rolland’s wrote this:

IZNIK  (103 here and previously) ran well under a more patient ride than some, paying something of a compliment to Quisisana, who beat her and Ottery easily in a listed race the time before.

https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Deauville/17-August-2024/1525

This year Survive was beaten 1 1/4L by Aventure and 1 3/4L by Quisisana.

So I wondered - Was Gezora a sighter for Quisiana and was Quisiana the reason that they skipped the JEAN ROMANET?.?.

Delashay • October 4, 2025 5:46 PM BST
Set to begin a short-term riding stint in Japan next month, jockey Alexis Pouchin will partner the in-form Quisisana, who enters the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on a four-race winning streak. "I rode him in trackwork last week, and he felt well-prepared. He's very straightforward to ride and has a great temperament. He can handle both fast and soft ground, though I'd say he might be a bit better with some cut in the ground," Pouchin commented positively.

On the Japanese contenders, Pouchin said, "The one I personally like is Alohi Alii, but I think Croix du Nord is the strongest. It will come down to the ground. If it's good, that will help."

For those who’ve backed her these comments posted today might give some solace.

And here’s a very insightful read :

- Oisin Murphy: "The only way to bounce back is to ride a good horse"

Several times Golden Whip in England, Oisin Murphy fights against his demons for several years. Liz Price went to meet him, at his home, a few hours away from a weekend of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe where he will have the opportunity to shine in several events and this on Saturday at ParisLongchamp.

Sacrifice.

This is the title of the book that describes a year in the life of champion Oisin Murphy. It is him, moreover, and not the publishing house, who chose the title. “I want people to really understand what it’s like to be a jockey”, he says, perched precariously on the stool in his kitchen, days before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend.
It is already night when he finally reaches his house after a meeting in Goodwood which brought him a victory for seven climbs. "Not enough", he comments while lighting a cigarillo, before continuing: "I want them to understand that yes, one can earn quite a bit of money as a jockey, but life is not the fairy tale everyone imagines". He speaks with his eyes fixed on the cigarillo which he constantly pats against the ashtray, manipulating it more than he smokes it. Meanwhile, his face remains completely devoid of emotions. It is bewildering to see him evoke with so much distance a life he chose at the age of 14, a life in which he won the British Jockey Championship four times, from 2019 to 2021 and then again in 2024, the year at the center of this book.

Maybe detaching from the intensity of jockey’s life is his way of dealing with the pressure of the job. Because those who know Oisin Murphy, even if, in reality, probably no one really knows him, know that he is one of the most passionate and dedicated men to his profession. Even on vacation, he always stays close to the horses, engaging in show jumping for fun, and on big event days, he wakes up early to gallop horses at training, sometimes on the other side of the country. And every victory, no matter if it is a group I or a race to claim, is lived with the same enthusiasm and fervor.

But tonight, during this interview, his usual smile which, combined with his availability to his many fans, his natural eloquence and his obvious talent in the saddle have made him one of the great stars of racing, does not show once. Maybe the total absence of emotions serves to set the tone for the book, as it explains: “It’s written in diary form, so I tell every day of the season. And in fact, to tell you everything, I complain a lot. But it’s a very honest story of what I feel every day. I think it will give the listeners, if they listen to me speak, or the readers of the book, a real insight into the life of a jockey. Unlike other books, I describe what it’s like when you’re paired with the favorite seven times and beaten every time. There are very few passages on great moments, great victories. I hope it’s not too depressing, but I don’t think that the children will want to become jockeys after reading my book. We’ll see.

Sixteen years after leaving his family to join the stable of his uncle Jim Culloty, the former obstacle jockey who had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Best Mate for three consecutive years, and thirteen years after leaving Ireland to become an apprentice at Andrew Balding’s stable in Kingsclere in England, the multiple English Golden Whip is at the top of its profession. Winner of five I groups this year, leading the Jockeys' Championship with thirty victories ahead and starting thanks to Blue Diamond Stud a new original equipment contract, in addition to those with Qatar Racing and Nawara Stud, he should have a smile from ear to ear.

But it would be far too simple in the life of Oisin, who continuously leads, to use the words of the book’s cover, a dance on a taut thread, each step pushing his body and his mind to the breaking point. It is well documented that his career was punctuated with long suspensions for having been positive to alcohol tests and prohibited substances (by contamination rather than by use, it should be emphasized), then, the most important of all in terms of length, for non-compliance with the rules in force during the Covid period.

"My problem is that at the time, I liked to drink," he said, once again, remaining marble. This time, his eyes leave the ashtray and he puts out the cigarillo. He does not seek to justify himself, merely explaining what he undoubtedly had to repeat many times over the years, because already in 2019 he had failed a breathalyzer test while going to the racetrack in Salisbury. at the time, he did not make a connection with an addiction, whereas today, he acknowledges that he is an alcoholic.

“Oh yes, absolutely, I have a disease.” He admits it without the slightest hesitation or embarrassment: “I was not a normal drinker, even if I tried to be. I wanted to do like normal people, have a glass of wine or two, but I failed many times for years. It was not related to a bad moment, it could even happen during a very good period. There were often consequences, but I wasn’t ready to stop. Even if, at one point, I still stayed sober for 18 months. In fact, in October 2021 I started seeing a therapist and it helped me a lot. But it didn’t last and it was my fault. I was not invested”.

Today, after relapsing into the month of April when he was involved in a car accident, he may be, for the first time, invested. “I wasn’t ready before, continues the jockey who just celebrated his 30th birthday last month. I thought I could live like everyone else, but I failed. Now I know that if I don’t stop drinking, my career will be over and all the work accomplished since my childhood, all these dreams of great victories, I would have sacrificed for alcohol. I’m getting old and I had to try to pull myself together. My career is short and I’ve certainly already covered more than half of it. But I really wanted to come back and get into races.

The title Sacrifice, which at first glance seemed to refer to constant discipline to maintain one’s weight, to the grueling pace of endless days that start at dawn on the training tracks and end late on the track, and to the demanding necessity of traveling to the four corners of the world in 24 hours, contains in reality much more meanings than it initially appeared. For Oisin Murphy, being a jockey every day is obviously not always a pleasure and this raises the question: if it’s so difficult, why continue?

"Because I set a goal for myself and I haven’t reached it yet," he replies calmly. There are great races that I have never won before, like the Arc, the Derby or the King George. I would like to give myself a chance to win them. Besides, it would be the greatest moment of my career if I could win the Arc. That has always been my ambition. I saw Kieran Fallon do it with Dylan Thomas. He had 'survived' an investigation by the commissioners. It was extraordinary, it really seemed like an exceptional moment.

This Sunday, he will be riding the Japanese competitor Byzantine Dream with whom he has already won the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and more recently, the Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp. « It’s probably the best chance I’ve ever had in an Arc ». Finally, a hint of a smile appears on his face. But barely do we have time to notice it, it fades. Oisin Murphy continues: "I do the dance every day so that it no longer rains because if he holds well the 2,400 meters, it is not a real stayer since he was well beaten on long distances at his home in Japan. So, a good piece of land is very important. But he delivered a great performance in the Prix Foy and if I could have the same ground as that day, it would be good. Those around him think he has made more progress and in addition, he has a good spike in speed, we have to see.

Oisin Murphy has already analyzed the performance of each of his future opponents in the Arc and in his head, he knows exactly what awaits him on Sunday. If he is hard on himself, evoking his statistics for the months of July and August which were not extraordinary, he nevertheless admits that the season is rather good thanks to his five group I victories, including one with Sajir, coached by André Fabre, who will also line up at the start of the Prix de la Forêt. The thirst for victories, this force that drives him every day, this ambition to win, all of this is still very much present. He concludes: "I don’t know if alcoholics will read this, but we can always get by as soon as we have the will. This is called knowing how to let go”.

He pauses, lights up another cigarillo and adds: “The only way to bounce back is to ride a good horse.”.

Let’s hope that Byzantine Dream is the good horse who can offer this young jockey so talented the accomplishment he is looking for, so that his sacrifices have a meaning and he can, to use his own words from a chapter dedicated to sleep, finally have a good night.

I hope that he can stick to his new found reality and accomplish all that he wants because real talent is rare and no one can doubt that he has it in spades.

Delashay.

We have not always seen eye to eye, but your enthusiasm is clear.

But stick with posting your opinions than that of trainers and jockeys who of course will always big up their charges.

Cheers and good luck, I share their words because there’s truth amongst it and this year I can say that I’ve learnt lots still - ie how horses are travelled to help them mature.

Hopefully the others who thought me bad will come back and share their views too -  ie Figgis and Smokey.

Sympathy! Sympathy! Sympathy!

There's no need to tell others what you're doing or about to do. Do it 1st, then tell others what you've done. Not before!

There are many others who are in a worse predicament than he is presently. Loads, and these people do not advertise to the world what they are about to do. Most people are not interested eg yours truly, about individuals with a toxic alcohol addiction. Deal with the demon 1st.

Talk is cheap...to me!

Today those drawn out wide seemed ok and I can say another good judge has said that ;)  you know who you are.

After tomorrow hopefully, with a desirable result, my next big race will be the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Impossible give him a chance at redeeming himself, to say that he has an illness and admit to being an alcoholic is more than most can do.

Good luck with those bets and I’ve enjoyed this first year, my ‘freshers year’ again!

Not that I’ve been here before, that’s a nod to Uni, I’ve red these guys here battle it out about the Arc and I’m sure they’re bored with my 2penny worth!

So if anyone has anything to add throw it in - it’s all appreciated.

Btw is Minnie Hauk a 'lay' for 4-places at 2.18, and Aventure a back at 2.5 for 3-places? I think the former will be "saved" if not in contention at the 2f marker.

I’m  a jumps man, can’t stand to see them fall, so I’ll be watching the flat international races later. I love when formlines from different countries mix.

'Delashay', you carry on doing what you're doing here.

Regards Mr Murphy. He just needs to deal with it. He's been talking (and soliciting) sympathy in the past. It's time he tackles it head-on (finally) otherwise, roundabout all over again.

Impossible I posted a long reply, it’s lost, dealing with an addiction is difficult, at least he can verbalise that he has one.

Should everyone be given a second chance? That’s another discussion, I read today how 3 teenage girls filmed and kicked an old man to death in London.

Those are doomed and I’m not sure how their sentences match the crime? He’s done wrong and realises it, give him a chance now.

Delashay • October 4, 2025

…He won the race getting Buick out of trouble and I fear him in the Arc because as I quoted earlier on this thread he’s said that he’s confident again.

My gut says there’s no superstar amongst the French 3 year olds as every Classic has been won in a bunched finish.

That he’s taken the same route with this colt as his first winner of the Arc Trempolino at his age of almost 80 makes me think there’s a story there.

The time in the Niel was slow but he’s shown that he can handle a big field and fight  (like Ombudsman he wants to go by horses) in a fast run Arc he might surprise us and run much better - we don’t know.
Alli Alii has form linked with Crox Du Nord through Museum Mile who’s won on his comeback this year, he pulverised him at Deauville, he’s unknown over the trip. Both have potential over what we know.

I posted that and wasted it on the main page, like you said impossible we know what LA is capable of over 10f

The step back up and the plot of paying to supp Minnie Hauk is another story…. It’s a fraction of the prize money for a decoy!

Why’s Brugel not there? He only just beat Illinois , who was beat by Sosie in the GPDP

For those who do not suffer from addiction it is very easy to criticise.

Personally for me, what he did was out of work hours and should not be discussed or used against him in his work place.

It has a knock on to the rest of his life though and agree for those who don’t understand it it’s easy.

Even within a family unit.

I hope I'm wrong. Mr Murphy likes to talk the talk (about his alcohol abuse). Now is the time to walk the walk. Until then Mr Murphy is not on my sympathy list; his blaming and accusation of jealousy from others in his profession was uncouth and self-centred.

Can anyone post the link to ZE turf with the photo of the race from last year?

Impossuble I agree and he has to step up

For me Aventure is a lay

If I'd any loose change (from free spins, etc) I'd put it on Aventure for 3-places at 2.5. I think she'll win unless a 3 yr o filly is challenging.

If I’m wrong I’m wrong, but last year she was drawn 4 broke slow, LA was in 10 went forwards, this year they are two apart. He was 40/1 while she is 4/1

Look at the finish last year and he’s just behind having made the running

Are they good enough? To beat this years crop?

Well First Look did earlier in the Dollar….

Aventure is incredible value at 8 here. I think this is solely because AOB has won the 1st 2 races. But, 4.3 is ridiculously short for Minnie Hauk. I might even 'lay' for 3-places at just odd-on.

I've 'lay' Minnie Hauk to finish infront of Aventure.

If the Vermille 1ST & 2ND can overcome their draws they should both
go well.Backed Gezora well over 30s on here.Shouldn't be 4 x the price
of Aventure,wasn't given an overly hard time LTO & it was her 1ST try over
the trip.Wasn't stopping in the French Oaks when she won it either.Can see
her running a big race today.
   GL ALL

Aventure is friendless.

The female handler of Minnie Hauk had blood streaming down her nose. I think she was struck by the filly.

This is the finale of the Flat season. May the best horse win.

Good luck everyone!

For some reason my long winded post didn't work. Anyway, I've backed Kalpana.

get in

Well done Daryz backers! A deserved winner.

Nice one Foyles, and anyone else who put up Daryz.

Daryz backers (A/P)
  Lovely Wnr
  wd
   GL

Well done Fowles and good job you re - backed DD!

What a piece of training, (I mentioned that was my biggest lesson learnt this year last night) the horse that came last in the International hacks up today! Was all a learning curve for the horse. The signs were there!

The only thing I got right was to be against Aventure

thanks guys actually backed 3 daryz 66s ante post leffard  50s and quissisana 33s ,must say I wasn't confident the last few weeks with daryz but graffard had a glint in his eye according to oli when interviewed about daryz .

Laurent Brbaraine jumped ship twice! Was on Gezora, then Quisiana and today went for Daryz, has the word up didn’t he!

when interviewed by oli just before the off !^^^

Graffard just admitted to Ollythat he said to Zara that he said the horse wasn’t going to win at York but wanted to toughen him up!

This is what Graffard said after the York LAST


Delashay  • August 20, 2025 4:19 PM

Add that to what Graffards had said about his:

Graffard said: "I thought he would be our best three-year-old. Mentally he was quite backwards and we've had to bring him along step by step, but we don’t have much choice but to try him in the deep end.
"Good ground will be an advantage for him, but it’s a high-quality field full of horses with more experience than him and I hope there will be plenty of pace on.
"I feel we need to teach him something. He needs to learn what is ahead and going to York, the journey and a strong field will do him a lot of good.

"I think sometimes you need to be prepared to lose to win in the long run."

DD are you s annoyed now at another non tryer like Caulificar was at Deauville? Or see it as a great training performance?

If only Graffard had told the York racegoers Daryz was there for a "run". I think Soumillon would be kicking himself to take it up so far out.

Is this Graffard's 1st ARC win?

Danon Decile had done the same at York (trainer had said about taking the baby out of him) and I think now I’ll reassess any **** 3 year old that comes for the Arc as it’s a learning experience for them too.

If only Impossible but they don’t ’till after! And yes his 1st Arc and what a plot!!

Fabre you no longer have the best 3 year old colt! Buick had a mare on that!

Four stars was Japanese shortened 3 letters becomes four stars!

Soumi shot his bolt like he did on Orfevere!

Was Soumi on Orfevere? A double hurt for him and connections.

Is ITV taking pictures from 'billy'? Billy is more "live" than ITV.

I'm happy for Mrs Harrington winning the 'Opera' with Barnavara.

I'd criticised the race beforehand as a poor renewal, but, in fairness, after the result it turned out to be a decent winning performance. With Minnie Hauk running her best race yet and Daryz an up to scratch winner on the day.

My main fancy today is Sajir in the Foret. Normally I'm wary of following runners like him, who don't make normal progress from 2 to 3 but then make belated improvement as a 4yo, as I find they usually blow out next time. In this case, however, I have Sajir last time not only showing the normal wfa improvement that could've been expected from 2 to 3, but a good few pounds on top of that. He's weak today, probably on account of the difficult draw, but I've stuck with him anyway.

I was counting my money at the two pole.
Great run from the front two.
Well done Foyles and DD

Japanese horses don't stay, even if they had won at 1m 7f or 2m.
They don't like it up 'em.

Race time was 0.23 fast on very soft (???) ground.
The seven low draws finished 1,2,3,4,8,9,16(Japanese).
Low draws do well in the Arc on firm or good ground (only 21 Longchap Arcs faster than today).
Does not compute.

First and third in the Arc were "beaten" by Japanes horses in their last race before the Arc.

as said by many the French going reports can often be taken with a fistful of salt , what must be remembered is the Neil and  those other races on trials day co are indeed trials . good write up  the other day by the way kincem

Kevin Blake's 1, 2, 3

9 Quisisana
12 White Birch
17 Los Angeles

I think the winner Daryz will be retired without running another race. The financial attraction of the breeding shed is too insurmountable for connections to forego even for Princess Zahra. The runner up Minnie Hauk could do battle again overseas this season, I'd imagine.

The race was seriously biased by the draw this year on going which also played a significant part. Minnie Hauk was only just beaten but at least it got laid in-running whilst Daryz improved 9 lbs on RPR which is quite a bit. It was my 4th rated but I didn't cover it. Leffard may be a better horse next year but it wasn't a bad run to finish in 8th. Glad to be at home this year and not in the rain!

User differentdrum • August 14, 2025 7:23 PM BST
I very rarely cash out, but I will be cashing out my profit on Daryz. Said all along going to York is bonkers. They have made the Juddmonte his Arc without a step in between. I don't expect him to get close, and I will be surprised if he even runs in the Arc.

Great shame that they have gelded Yellow Jersey. I think he is very good. He may have beaten rubbish on debut, but at the time I thought he quickened like a very good horse. Upped in class he has now won two more races with a great deal of ease. Today he won despite the ride. He wasn't well away as the commentator suggested. Redvers was talking about him as a stayer, but he has far too much pace for that route. I think he is more exciting than Daryz.

Well done Fowles for keeping the faith!

I laid off Minnie Hawk! I’ve not been a layer and that wasn’t a nice experience! After seeing Crox Du Nord’s last work work I also laid him, he was panting away after as I’d mentioned.
Reminded me of Minnie Hauk after she won at Chester which the flared nostrils going 5o to the dozen!

I think after making that massive move he blew up. We’ll see how he goes in the Japan cup but near the beginning of the thread I’d said that I thought that he had run of the race in that.

Be wary of writing off Danon Decile in that race, he was prepping and growing mentally at York and I expect a much bigger run, his form from Dubai has been franked with Gia running a big race on ground - going he shouldn’t of liked.

There really shouldn’t be all this confusion with regards the going. It’s wring to just blame the French reports as there were plenty of Brits journo’s, jocks and trainers there to give us a truthful report.

I did not have a bet on the Arc.
My betting now is at most once a year, usually the (British) Open.
At one stage about twenty years ago I went racing every Saturday and Sunday in the flat season.
My claim to fame is 23 consecutive losers (betting perhaps three races a meeting), and one year backing the last in the Oaks and last in the Derby.

I analysed the Arc field this year and sent my results to Delashay.
My top rated was Aventure, my second was Giavellotto (odds 50s), so I said my selection was Giavellotto (4th).
Delashay said on the thread Aventure was a lay.

My interest is analysing pedigrees.
I want to know why one brown horse is faster than another brown horse.
I think I have some of the solution, but honestly I am only copying what others learned decades ago (and nobody uses).
The prices paid at the yearling sales have an almost zero relationship with running ability.

I hope no one here backed Zarigana. She was touted as a filly of great potential. However, post her run in the Coronation Stakes her dodgy mind rendered her unbackable like the present Labour Party.

2026 entries out yesterday,anyone know where i can get them?

The Racing Post under Declaration & Big Race Entries. At the moment 73 are entered.

thanks