Testing for Arc clues starts this week as Kalpana initiates vital trials at Kempton
News Article: Arc Contenders Gearing Up for Key European Races
The horse racing season is heating up in Europe, with several top contenders preparing for key races leading up to the prestigious Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
One of the horses to watch is Alleno, a Group 2 winner at Cologne. Trainer Marcel Weiss is considering Alleno for a supplementary Arc entry in the Grosser Preis von Baden. This move could potentially pit Alleno against Goliath, the horse announced for the Grosser Preis von Baden and a possible additional Arc entrant.
Goliath, who recently won the Hong Kong Vase, will face a formidable challenge in the September Stakes, where he'll meet Giavellotto, the winner of last year's September Stakes. Giavellotto will also be competing against Kalpana, Juddmonte's horse who won the race in 2020 and is part of a route that led to a win on Champions Day.
Aventure and Gezora, two of France's best Arc hopes, will also run in the Prix Vermeille. Whirl, one of the horses with single-figure prices for the Arc, will also be participating in this race. Sosie, who has a 5-6 record at Longchamp, is also set to run in the Prix Foy, where she'll face competition from horses like Los Angeles, Almaqam, and Byzantine Dream.
Two horses, Cold Heart and Leffard, are the only Arc entries in the Grosser Preis von Baden and the Prix Niel respectively. Leffard, who recently won the Grand Prix de Paris, could present a strong challenge in the Prix Niel.
The St Leger, another significant race, has only seen two of its 15 possibles enter the Arc. Notable among these are Minnie Hauk and Tennessee Stud, who are entered in both the St Leger and the Arc.
Historically, it's been challenging for horses to follow up a St Leger win with a victory in the Arc. Hurricane Lane fared best among the ten St Leger winners to attempt this feat this century, but Golden Horn remains the last Irish Champion winner to successfully follow up in the Arc, achieving this feat in 2015.
Sottsass, who was beaten in the Irish Champion Stakes in 2020, landed Europe's most prestigious race on his next start. Bluestocking, another horse to watch, won the Vermeille on her way to winning the Arc last year.
The September Stakes will take place at Kempton on Saturday, while the Prix Vermeille will take place at Longchamp on Sunday. The Grosser Preis von Baden and the Prix Niel are scheduled for later in the month. The races promise to be thrilling spectacles, with many top contenders vying for victory.
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