Darley sire Cape Cross can sire a second Arc de Triomphe winner in as many years when his colt Behkabad goes out favourite in the European grand final at Longchamp on Sunday.
Behkabad (3c Cape Cross — Behkara by Kris) is a homebred for the Aga Khan who won the 2008 Arc with wonder filly Zarkava. The Aga Khan also stands Sea The Stars at Gilltown Stud in Ireland. The Cape Cross colt capped a sensational career with a convincing victory in last year’s Arc.
Behkabad is trained by Jean Claude Rouget and stable jockey Christophe Lemaire has chosen to ride him ahead of fellow Aga Khan homebred on Sarafina. The latter will be partnered by Gerald Mosse.
The favourite goes into the race on the back of victories in the G2 Prix Niel and G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Prior to those wins, he was fourth home in the French Derby won by Lope de Vega.
This year’s Arc will be run in testing conditions with the ground at Longchamp described as soft to very soft with more rain expected before the race.
Coolmore trainer Aidan O’Brien will be mob-handed with Fame And Glory, Dixie Music, Cape Blanco, Joshua Tree, Midas Touch, Flying Cross and Bright Horizon all being paid up for the 2400m race which is worth 4 million euros (AUD 5.61 million).
Andre Fabre supplemented Lope de Vega (Shamardal) into the race and Freddie Head has also added the Grand Prix de Deauville winner Marinous (Numerous) to the field at a cost of 100.000 euros (AUD 140,275).
“Lope De Vega is very well in himself, which is why we’re taking our chance,” Fabre explained. “Of course, there is a big question mark about the distance and I’m more hopeful than confident he will stay.”
English Derby winner Workforce is a definite starter after he worked well at the Newmarket gallops earlier this week. The King’s Best colt is a Juddmonte homebred for Khalid Abdullah and was a significant firmer ($18 into $7.50) when it was confirmed the colt would be heading to Paris this weekend.
Youmzain (Sinndar) will be running in his fourth edition of the Arc and will be the sentimental favourite after seconds to Dylan Thomas (07), Zarkava (08) and Sea The Stars (09).
Arc betting
7/2 BEHKABAD (Cape Cross)
5/1 FAME AND GLORY (Montjeu)
11/2 WORKFORCE (King’s Best)
6/1 PLANTEUR (Danehill Dancer)
8/1 SARAFINA (Refuse To Bend)
8/1 CAPE BLANCO (Galileo)
14/1 YOUMZAIN (Sinndar)
25/1 NAKAYAMA FESTA (Stay Gold)
33/1 DUNCAN (Dalakhani)
33/1 PLUMANIA (Anabaa)
33/1 CAVALRYMAN (Halling)