The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a flat horse race in France which is scheduled in October of every year and run at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France. The Group 1 category race is open to all thoroughbreds aged three years or older and it covers a total distance of 2,400 m or 1 ½ mile.
Also known as the “Arc”, it is the second richest turf race after The Everest and is also the second most prestigious horse race in Europe after the Epsom Derby with its honor roll featuring many acclaimed horses and its winners referred to as champions.
This horse race was first held on October 3, 1920, and it is named after one of the most famous monuments in France. The Arc de Triomphe was the historic scene of a victory parade by the Allies in 1919 And since the race was born in the wake of World War 1, the organizers decided to name it after the monument. That is also why the slogan of the race is “Ce n’est pas une course, c’est un monument” or “It is not a race, it’s a monument.”
Currently, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club or the QREC is the race’s primary sponsor since 2008. That sponsorship agreement doubled the prize fund for the race from €2 million to €4 million. Last year, the prize fund for the race was at €5 000 000, making it the richest flat race on turf. What was once just one race is now the Arc Weekend with a total of seven Group 1 races and four Group 2 races. Included in the G1 races in the Arabian World Cup whose €1 000 000 prize-money makes it the richest race for purebred Arabian horses.
The First Three-time Winner?
A total of eight horses have won the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe two times. The last of these horses to achieve that feat was Treve in 2013-14 and Enable who won back to back in 2017 and 2018. Frank Dettori is the winningest jockey in the race with a total of six victories including the previous two years with Enable. Andre Fabre is the most successful trainer with seven victories in the race. Meanwhile, Marcel Boussac and Khalid Abdullah have the most wins as horse owners a six apiece. Abdullah is the owner of the most recent double-champion Enable.
Speaking of Enable, the five-year-old British-bred bay filly is expected to run the Arc again this year. And given how she dominated her previous two runs here, Enable has been installed as the early horse racing betting favorite to win the race for a third straight time.
Here are the odds to win the 2019 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe. Odds were taken from Bet365 as of 9/10/19:
Horse | Odds |
---|---|
Enable | -110 |
Japan | +500 |
Crystal Ocean | +650 |
Sottsass | +800 |
Ghaiyyath | +900 |
Magical | +1400 |
Waldgeist | +1400 |
Anapurna | +2000 |
Saturnalia | +2500 |
Stradivarius | +2500 |
Blast Onepiece | +2500 |
Deirdre | +2800 |
Enable is one of the current best middle-distance horse in Europe. During her three-year old campaign, she picked up notable wins such as the Cheshire Oaks, Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. A year later, she was victorious in the September Stakes and won her second straight Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders Cup Turf. In doing so, she became the first horse to win the Arc and the Breeder’s Cup Turf in the same year.
Japan is a three year old bay colt trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Derrick Smith & John Magnier & Michael Tabor. This British horse is coming off a win at the Juddmonte International Stakes, a Group 1 race at York last August 21. A month earlier, he also won the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, also a Group 1 race, held at Longchamp. Overall, Japan has five wins in 8 flat races started.
Crystal Ocean is a five year old bay colt owned by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Crystal Ocean finished second behind Japan in York at the Juddmonte International Stakes last month. He also finished second behind Enable at the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes last July. Overall, Crystal Ocean has won 8 of his 17 flat races started with 7 second and 2 third place finishes.
Softsass is a three-year old chestnut colt trained by J-C Rouget and owned by White Birch Farm. He won the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club Group 1 race at Chantily last June 02, 2019. A month prior to that Softsass also won the Prix de Suresnes also at Chantily. Overall, he has three wins in five flat turf races started.
Ghaiyyath is a fou year old bay colt owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby. This horse won the 147th Longines Grosser Preis von Baden race at Baden-Baden last September 1, 2019. He also won the Prix de Harcourt last April and Prix du Prince de Orange in October 2018. Overall, Ghaiyyath has won five out of seven flat races.
Stravidarius is the Irish-bred but British-trained chestnut stallion who earned a £1 million bonus for winning the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup ( his second win ) and Lonsdale Cup in 2018. This year, he repeated with wins in the Yorkshire Cup and Ascot Gold Cup.
Who Wins?
A lot of things are going for Enable. His owner is the winningest owner in the race and his jockey has the most wins in this race as well. He is also one of eight two wins the race twice and one of seven to win in consecutive years. However, no horse has won the Arc more than two times and that’s the history this horse is chasing.
The odds board has fantastic horses all the way down to Stradivarius and I think that if the race will be now, any of those horses have a shot at winning the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe. However, you have to consider what Enable has achieved here the past two years and that’s enough to give him your nod.
Again, these are ante-post odds and we’re not even sure if these horses will be starting on race day. But if I were to make a pick here, I would not hesitate going with Enable to win this race again. Prediction: Enable