Tabor expects special Run
Although owner Michael Tabor hopes he will prove up to the task, he knows a tough challenge awaits his four-year-old.
“I’d be very hopeful because I think he is a very special horse and knowing Andre (Fabre) and the trainer he is, he will have him prepared on the day,” said Tabor.
“But of course he has Shirocco as well – obviously, being one of the owners of Hurricane Run, I’d like to think he’ll beat Shirocco, but an independent observer might think differently, so it will be close.”
Ladbrokes St Leger hero Sixties Icon will fly the flag for Britain.
Jeremy Noseda’s charge was an impressive winner of the one-mile-six-furlong Classic to make it three wins from six career outings.
Sixties Icon will be stepping back in trip, but owner Paul Roy, who supplemented his charge at a cost of €60,000, thinks he has come on again for his York victory. “He’s improved again since the Leger, but he will have to as he’s in against the three best horses in the world.”
A field of eight will go to post, with Shirocco and Hurriccane Run dominating the market along with Japanese superstar Deep Impact.
It will be the smallest Arc field since 1941 – and plenty of questions have been posed as to where the pace will come from.
“Shirocco has made it in the past, he took it over a long way out in the Coronation Cup and I wouldn’t be surprised if he might be in front,” said big-race rider Frankie Dettori.
Deep Impact has attracted much of the attention in the pre-race build-up and he carries the hopes of a nation as he bids to go one better than El Condor Pasa in 1999.
“Since arriving here he’s been training for almost two hours everyday on the sand course, which is deeper than that of Japan,” trainer Yasuo Ikee said.
“We are ready for the race.”
Although it is a small field for the race, connections of Shirocco feel rider Christophe Soumillon may just give them a vital edge.
The Belgian-born rider has divided opinion in Britain, Soumillon is regarded as peerless in France – particularly at Longchamp.
“Christophe has become such an important part of this horse’s life we are very happy that he is free to ride Shirocco,” said Paul Harley, racing manager to owner Baron Georg von Ullman.
“He knows the horse extremely well and will now what to expect on the day.”
