The betting for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was thrown wide open by the defeat of ante-post favourite Sea The Moon at Baden-Baden.
Connections had warned that Sea The Moon would need the run before the group one Longines Grosser Preis von Baden, but he was still sent off the 1-3 favourite and it was disappointing that he could not see off a modest field.
It was a first defeat for Sea The Moon, who had shot to prominence with an 11-length success in the German Derby on his previous start. In fairness, he was a little fresh early on in the race, which was his first start for two months, but this front-running colt now has plenty to prove after being readily brushed aside in the closing stages by Ivanhowe. The latter is a general 16-1 chance for the Longchamp showpiece on October 5, although it will be a surprise if he proves good enough to make an impact.
Treve is now favourite to repeat last year’s Arc win, despite not having been seen since finishing only third to The Fugue at Royal Ascot in June. She herself has questions to answer having been beaten on both starts this season.
With doubts about Treve and Sea The Moon, Australia seemingly unlikely to run and Taghrooda having been beaten at York, this looks a race where there should be some value in opposing those at the head of the market.
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Perhaps this will be the year that Japan finally lands the prize. Both Just A Way and Harp Star are top-class performers who are intended runners, but with the former far from certain to stay it is Harp Star who rates the pick of the prices at this stage at the 10-1 generally on offer.
G Force rewards top combination
It was good to see David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope sharing a first group one success at Haydock Park on Saturday when G Force was an impressive winner of the Betfred Sprint Cup.
The combination have been a potent force in the north since Tudhope starting riding for O’Meara in 2011, racking up 192 winners in that time. O’Meara does not yet receive too many expensive purchases, and G Force is a good example of the level at which he has to operate being a 25,000-guinea purchase from Qatar Racing at the end of last year.
G Force has made terrific progress under O’Meara’s care, though, and having finished an unlucky sixth in the Nunthorpe at York an extra furlong at Haydock proved the making of him. That was just the eighth start of his career and, with further improvement likely, G Force could easily dominate the sprinting division next year.
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Sole Power faces wait for better ground
Sole Power had landed the Nunthorpe in impressive fashion but had his winning streak broken when he could finish only fourth behind G Force.
He has looked better than ever at the age of seven since being teamed up with Richard Hughes, who suits his preferred hold-up style perfectly.
However, the pair never looked likely to land a telling blow at Haydock, travelling strongly as usual but not able to produce quite the same turn of foot at the end of the race as he can over the minimum trip.
Sole Power will doubtless be back, but he has already been beaten three times in his next intended start, the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp. Connections might have to wait until he gets fast ground next summer before Sole Power returns to his best.