Dettori has high hopes with Doyen
Frankie Dettori is hoping for a big run from his mount Doyen in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-Lucien Barriere at Longchamp.
The Andre Fabre-trained three-year-old finished second to current Arc favourite Dalakhani on his last outing in the Prix Niel, which was his best run to date.
Dettori rode him that day and he believes the Sadler’s Wells colt can shrug off his inexperience – he has had just five runs – to put up a bold show in the 12-furlong showpiece.
“He’s a nice horse. He’s unexposed, he’s improving,” Dettori told attheraces. “He might not have the experience of some of the other horses, but he’s a good horse in his own right.
“In the Arc you need a bit of luck and I think if we get a bit of luck he will run well.”
Dalakhani has been drawn on the wide outside in stall 14, while second favourite High Chaparral will emerge from stall one.
Dettori has been drawn in four, but he played down the significance of post positions.
He explained: “It depends what kind of horse you ride. I was drawn 17 on Sakhee, but Sakhee was a very uncomplicated horse.
“If you ride a horse that needs to be drawn into the race, obviously you want to be drawn inside. But I’m very happy and Longchamp has been kind to me in the past.”
A total of 14 horses have been declared for the race but Marcus Tregoning has expressed some doubts about Mubtaker’s participation as the ground is now described as very soft.
“We can go to Canada (the Canadian International) as well and hopefully not encounter soft ground there as well, but that’s the chance you take,” the trainer said.
“The Arc takes some winning and we’d want as much as we can in our favour.
“I will go to France and walk the course on Sunday morning. If I decide it is too soft, then that will be that.”
Mubtaker has had just three runs this year after suffering an injury in Dubai over the winter.
However, he has won all his starts this campaign, including an impressive five-length victory in the Coral September Stakes last time out.
Tregoning added: “He is relatively fresh. The French do it every year in the Arc and it does make quite a bit of difference going for these autumn races.”
Dalakhani and High Chaparral, the mounts of Christophe Soumillon and Michael Kinane respectively, have dominated the betting for the Group One race in recent weeks.
Alain de Royer Dupre’s charge, winner of the Prix du Jockey-Club, comes into this race on the back of a win in the Group Two Prix Niel, while High Chaparral won the Group One Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Vodafone Derby winner Kris Kin, who finished third to Dalakhani in the Niel, reopposes, while First Charter runs as his pacemaker.
Tim Easterby sends last year’s St Leger winner Bollin Eric, while O’Brien also runs dual Group One winner Black Sam Bellamy and Fontanesi. Dermot Weld sends triple Irish St Leger winner Vinnie Roe.
Ange Gabriel, winner of the Prix Foy, represents Eric Libaud and de Royer Dupre also runs Diyapour, who is likely to act as pacemaker for Dalakhani. Elie Lellouche will be represented by Policy Maker.
The field is completed by German runner Dai Jin, who has won two Group Ones, including his local Derby, for trainer Andreas Schutz this year.
