Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Where did Danedream come from?
by Matt Gardner on Oct 2, 2011 7:57 PM EDT
in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
I've got a full Super Saturday/Arc Festival/Sunday re-cap on the way a little bit later but I wanted to take a deeper look at the winner of today's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Danedream (GER) . The upset winner of the 2011 Arc seemingly came out of nowhere to not only win the biggest race in Europe, but dominate it by five lengths. She didn't come completely out of nowhere; she raced in Germany, Italy, and France this year, so many people had seen her race. But her accomplishments were relatively unknown compared to those of her more highly rated rivals.
Let's get the basics out of the way: Danedream is a German-bred three-year-old daughter of Lomitas (GB) out of a Danehill mare, Danedrop (IRE). (pedigree profile) Lomitas was a three-time Group 1 winner in Germany over the course of his racing career and finished with a lifetime record of 9-6-2-0.
During her juvenile season, Danedream won only one race out of five starts, although she was DQ'd from a win at Deauville in a listed stakes race in mid-August.
6 comments2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Result: German Filly Danedream Springs The Upset (w/Replay)
by Matt Gardner on Oct 2, 2011 10:25 AM EDT
in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Three-year-old filly Danedream (GER) powered to the front of the field of the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe coming into the final furlongs and easily distanced herself from her rivals. At the wire the German filly won by open lengths to take Europe's biggest race.
Shareta (IRE) finished 2nd, while Snow Fairy (IRE) rounded out the top three. That's an all-filly trifecta.
The big favorites - So You Think (NZ), Sarafina (FR), Galikova (FR), Reliable Man (GB) and Workforce (GB) - were unable to mount a serious threat to the winner. So You Think finished best of the favorites by nabbing the 4th spot.
2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Full Result (via Racing Post)
In the race prior to the Arc, Dream Ahead nipped Goldikova (IRE) at the wire of the G1-Prix de la Foret, denying the brilliant race mare a victory in her final race in France. She is now 5-2-3-0 on the year.
More on all the Arc day races a bit later.
Video Replay below with the usual French commentary.
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Sunday Results
by Matt Gardner on Oct 2, 2011 9:07 AM EDT
in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
You find the results to today's action at Longhcamp at the below file. Go to the sheet named "Arc Festival" for all of the race results, and "Arc Entries" for the fields for both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Prix de la Foret.
2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Preview
by Matt Gardner on Oct 1, 2011 10:26 PM EDT
in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Defending champion Workforce (GB) will try to become the first back-to-back winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe since Alleged in 1977/1978 when he faces 15 rivals on Sunday morning at Longchamp in Paris. The 2011 Arc is scheduled to go to post at 10:15am Eastern/7:15am Pacific, and can be viewed on both HRTV and TVG. Also appearing on the Sunday's Arc card is three-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner Goldikova (IRE); she will run her final race in France in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret.
Like many of the racecourses in Europe, Lonchamp is a challenging and stamina testing course, especially at the classic distance of a mile and a half. Below is a diagram of the Longchamp course, along with a description of the Arc trip.
2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Entries, Post Positions and Best Odds
by Matt Gardner on Sep 30, 2011 11:38 AM EDT
in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
This morning declarations were finalized for this Sunday's Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, with defending champion Workforce (GB) drawing post position eight. Current ante post favorite Sarafina (FR), a troubled 3rd to Workforce in the 2010 Arc, drew post position 13. The 2011 Arc is scheduled to go to post at 8:30am Eastern/5:30am (damn, Longchamp keeps changing the lineup!) 10:15am Eastern/7:15am Pacific and can be viewed on both HRTV and TVG. The race prior to the Arc is the G1-Prix de la Foret, featuring three-time Breeders' Cup Mile champion Goldikova (IRE).
Take note in the chart below of the assigned weights for the Arc; I'll touch on this later in the full Arc preview, but the weight allowance for three-year-olds, especially three-year-old fillies, is significant. We aren't talking about a 2 lb. difference between Havre de Grace and Blind Luck in the Delaware Oaks, but instead a 11 lb. difference between older males like Workforce and St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) and the three-year-old fillies like Galikova (FR).
According to a report in the Racing Post (UK), the connections of defending champion Workforce are concerned with the condition of the ground at Longchamp. You might recall that Workforce shipped to Churchill Downs last fall to run in the Breeders' Cup Turf but scratched due to the firm ground. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute described his feeling about Workforce and the current ground conditions:
"We took him to Sandown last week where he had a satisfactory workout. It would have brought him on a bit more but I'm more disappointed with the weather forecast.
"He's a big, heavy horse and we do like good ground for him. We will get someone to have a look at the ground for us and I am concerned about it at the moment."
The concerns over the ground are slightly baffling when you considering that Workforce unleashed his greatest performance, a dominating eight length win in the 2010 Epsom Derby, over ground rated "Good to Firm" at Epsom. But despite his prior success over firmer ground, his connections have continued to try and spot Workforce in races with softer going.
Entries, post positions and odds below.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
