Romanet looking forward to Arc showdown

Organisers of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe were today waxing lyrical about the potential duel on October 2 between last year’s champion Hurricane Run and Japanese challenger Deep Impact, a former Japanese Triple Crown winner.

In all previous 84 runnings, Europe has won every single one (France with 61, England 11, Italy six, Ireland five and Germany one), but according to France Galop managing director Louis Romanet, that could all be about to change.

“It is a great thought that the ’Formula One’ race of European racing is a match between Hurricane Run bidding to follow six previous horses and win the race for the second successive time (the first since Alleged in 1977-1978), and Japan’s greatest ever horse Deep Impact attempting to become the first outside Europe to win it,” said Romanet.

“The interest from Japan has been amazing, with 150 journalists asking to be accredited and we applaud the sportsmanship of the connections in bringing him here as in just two races back home he could win the same amount of prize-money.

“However, it is indicative of the relative prize-money on the two continents that Deep Impact has won double that of Hurricane Run.”

Connections of Deep Impact, who have lodged the horse with Carlos Laffon-Parias since August 16 in Chantilly, have elected not to have a preparation run before the Longchamp showpiece.

“They have opted instead for a training gallop which, while it will get him used to Longchamp, is not the same as having a race under competitive conditions and on such a difficult course,” Romanet added.

But while Romanet said he was expecting plenty of Japanese people to travel over for the race, which is worth €2m with €1.1m to the winner, the largest visiting contingent was still expected to be from England.

“We put up a huge poster at Waterloo for the event as we have annually 15,000 to 20,000 spectators (from Britain) of the 55,000 we have had for the last two Arcs, and the Welsh Guards will be brought over as they are every year to entertain our British friends,” he said.