If none of Enable, Poet’s Word, Crystal Ocean or Roaring Lion shows up for the Arc it will immediately become a mediocre renewal as they are the only four horses in training in Europe with a rating above 125 (albeit last year’s rating in the case of Enable and a questionable 127 awarded Roaring Lion after York). The two three year old fillies may get all the allowances but neither of them has a rating in the 120s coming out of York. In the absence of any top-draw French fillies, Lah Ti Dar may have most to fear in the Prix Vermeille from whatever British and Irish fillies turn up. If Enable shows up at Kempton and demonstrates that she is still as good as last term, I cannot see Frankie deserting her.
Talking Horses: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe ticket hike has some logic I have to say that whilst I agree with much of the argument that Greg Wood makes here, I had not seen the Racing Post article that claims Arc Sunday is going to cost €75 admission. At the old Longchamp, it used to be one ticket price and access all areas, which one might expect in a country with the motto “Liberté, égalité, fraternité”. So I went on the official ParisLongchamp website and looked at the ticket price list. On Arc Sunday, they have now segregated the crowd into areas. For €15, you can go on the infield “Arc Village”. For €40 you get the Village plus the stand near the rail on the infield about 200 metres from the winning post. For €60 you get the Village plus the stand about 100 metres from the post. For €30, you can go in the area after the winning post called the “Arc Gardens” on the grandstand side of the track. For €75 you get the Gardens plus the grandstand opposite the winning post. On the Saturday, the Gardens ticket is €15 and the Gardens plus grandstand ticket is €30.
When my Mum and I used to travel to Paris two or three times a year for the horse racing (among other reasons) we used to retain our tickets as for every four vouchers you were allowed free entry at a subsequent meeting. This practice included all major race days; even the 'Prix de Diane' at Chantilly, the 'Grand Steeplechase de Paris' at Auteuil and the 'Arc'. My mother, displaying guile and a much disparaged (but valuable) Scottish trait, would pick up any vouchers lying about. In those far off days entry it was so inexpensive it was hardly worth the trouble to follow this practice but old habits die hard. I even recall, after my Mum was unable to travel, being given free access tickets while in the queue for 'Arc' day. Changing times! I am considering small investments in Andre Fabre's two 'older' colts; Talismanic and Waldgeist. Anyway, I intend returning to Paris next May for the 'Grand Steep'.
Can't see us paying £75Euros and the other options are beginning to sound like Royal Asot, a ****ing ripoff. The first time we went, Amanda got in free (as a member of the FFE) and I got in cheap being old. And we went more or less wherever we wanted
It sounds exactly like Royal Ascot in terms of costs; and like quite a few British racecourses in terms of charging premium rates to stand near the winning post (Ascot, Newbury, Sandown to name but three). When I first went to the Arc it cost €8 and that was the most expensive ticket of the year in France. A normal race day was €4. The last year that it was at Longchamp, I bought a ticket for the weekend that cost €20. At smaller Chantilly, the ticket for Sunday was €30, which I think would be reasonable – that is what you would pay to most of the top tracks in the UK. I too will not be paying €75, so it looks like my days of going to the Arc ended back in 2015.
That is a massive hike in prices, must have been some refurbishment. Given that the French are easily moved to kick off I'd be surprised if there wasn't a massive fuss from the locals. Or is the current Arc crowd mostly from overseas now so it's an opportunity to rinse the overseas visitor? Having said all that it is on my list of things to do and having to pay €75 to get in won't see it removed.
Got me thinking about my/our favourite days at the track when on holiday (not in any order): 1. Belmont Park for Jockey Club Cup day in September (5 Grade 1's) ----- $2 for general entry and a further $2 for transfer to 'Club Grandstand' ...... collar and long trousers required. 2. Koln Weidenpesch when we were given free entry tickets on the tram and glasses of Kolsch cost 1 DM. 3. Paris Vincennes ..... crowd reminded me of being at 'the dugs' in Edinburgh (Powderhall). 4. Munchen Riem on Grosser Dallmayr Preis day; my Mum's favourite due to the free goodies. 5. Munchen Daglfing ...... still the best grub I have had at any race track. 6. Neuss (sand) on the 31st December ....... again great crowd with brilliant 'local' atmosphere. 7. Auteuil ...... track opened for punting, drinking and eating on the night of the Breeders Cup. 8. Auteuil ...... the year the 'Week-End International de l'Obstacle' coincided with Halloween....... easily the most fun seeing the children having a great time. 9. Maison Lafitte ...... loved the wee town. 10. Longchamp ..... 'Arc' day with the Japanese in the year of Deep Impact. Will probably think of many more as the day progresses!
They spent over €100m on the rebuild. The new grandstand has no columns blocking anyone’s view and looks very futuristic from the photos I have seen. They have increased the number of fixtures being held at Longchamp each season (mostly by splitting cards that had several pattern races into individual dates – e.g. the Moulin is no longer on Arc Trials day) plus, of course, they will be using it for the equestrian events at the Olympics (it was part of their successful bid). As it says in the article, most of the crowd on Arc day is British, Irish and a few thousand Japanese if they have a runner. Most other French race meetings are poorly attended. I have been at Deauville a couple of times when the crowd would have been in the hundreds for a card with a Group 1 and two or three other pattern races. The French just do not go racing but they do still all put their bets on the PMU at the local tabac on their way to work, which keeps the sport very well funded because of the monopoly. You can get in on Arc day for less than €75 but obviously not in the premium locations. Whether the premium areas will have anyone French in them is debatable because it has been my observation in the various years that I attended Longchamp that straight after the Arc itself, half the French disappeared off home leaving us Brits and the Irish with a bit more space for the remaining races. I am surprised that they have not moved to make it like the Breeders' Cup card. I guess some folks won’t see the price hikes because they will be travelling on package deals so if you paid £400 last year and it is now £440, it does not look as severe as £27 up to £68.
What a shame they chose a cakewalk at Kempton for Enable’s reappearance. If only they had waited a week for the Prix Vermeille – Crystal Ocean has a higher rating than anything entered at Longchamp so she would have had a Group 1 cakewalk. Really no reason for Crystal Ocean to bother with the rematch in four weeks, as his penalty was not the difference. Predictably, the betting hardened on last year’s Arc Queen: 9/4 Enable 5/1 Sea Of Class 7/1 Cracksman 10/1 Lah Ti Dar 14/1 Poet’s Word 16/1 Crystal Ocean 20/1 Roaring Lion 25/1 Study Of Man, Capri, Waldgeist, Forever Together, Stradivarius Those looking for an each-way steal, I still think it is 25/1 Forever Together.
I think that was a very wise move. Gosden knows what he is doing. He knew she acted on the surface and she had an easy prep race, being "only 80-85% fit" A question of course is whether the track suited Crystal Ocean. Did he run to form? At the end of the day though, it was a fairly quick time, won hands and heels, ears pricked, had to make her own running and still plenty to work on. Couldn't really be more impressed on her first run for almost a year
Machinelike from Enable, she had to win at the weights today or you could forget about the Arc, ill definitely be taking her on but it will be some training performance if she does it. The best English 1m4 filly in my time but still a long month ahead, see how she comes out of the race and then there is the possible bounce, apparently preparation is everything in sport and shes still up against it. Crystal Ocean not really suited to a sit and sprint round Kempton and id say Stoute left plenty to work on and will be happy with that run, Moore didnt even turn up for him and today was far more important for Enable. Stoute mentioned the Foy as an option for him but im assuming the timing of this was better with an extra week, hes had an excellent prep for the race and he will be top 4 for sure.
Never does, seems to hate interviews even after 1-2 in the King George. Him and Moore went to Haydock anyway, so doesnt scream that winning a kempton G3 with Crystal Ocean today was of the utmost importance. The timing was important, could have had easier opponents next week in France.
I didnt see the interview, suppose he's not one to run for prize money and obviously knows he's not going to win it. Deserves to run imo, I'd rather finish 3rd or 4th in the Arc than win Canadian international.
Sir Michael is known to not like having a microphone shoved in front of him. It was hardly an interview as he was giving monosyllabic answers and the interviewer was doing all the talking. He just wanted to get out of the rain! I doubt that Crystal Ocean will be taking up his entry in the Prix Foy next week. Interestingly, Cracksman has been entered as well as Defoe, Capri, Waldgeist and a Japanese horse Clincher. Aidan O’Brien has nearly half the entries in the Prix Niel but at least a couple of them will be on Town Moor the day before. You might rather take place money but winning a Group 1 looks better on a stallion’s CV, so I expect that Mr Rothschild would rather go to the Canadian International, a race that Stoute has won twice in recent years with lesser horses than Crystal Ocean. It will be Canada followed by Breeders’ Cup Turf.
