Fabre Sizes Up Contenders For Arc Bid
- Tuesday, 24 September 2013 01:15
Andre Fabre has four main contenders for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 6.
The master French trainer has won Europe's feature race seven times, more than any other handler.
However, he has not won the mile-and-a-half event since sending out Rail Link in 2006 and while none of his contenders are outsiders, none of them are troubling the ante-post favourites at this stage.
Flintshire had headed the betting for the Arc before his eclipse on soft ground in the Prix Niel when only fourth to Japanese Derby winner Kizuna and he will run as long as the ground is good.
Ocovango finished fifth behind Ruler Of The World in the Derby at Epsom but was much closer to him in the Niel when a length in front of Flintshire. He would prefer softer ground.
Penglai Pavilion is likely to represent Godolphin having won a Saint Cloud Listed race last time out and it may be that Intello is now Fabre's major hope after cruising to victory in his prep race at the weekend.
"Flintshire will run if it is good, Penglai Pavilion will run too, with Ocovango we are watching the weather as he likes it softer and of course Intello will run," Fabre said.
"Triple Threat and Sky Hunter will not run.
"Intello was not impressive at the weekend, but I didn't want him to be. All I wanted was for him to have a nice, confident race. I don't like my horses to be impressive in their trials.
"I think all of them deserve to run, but you wouldn't say any of them are the favourites.
"The one with the class is Intello."
