On the shortest of lists for the world’s most important and prestigious horse races, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be renewed Sunday morning (EDT) from France’s Longchamp Racecourse. First run in 1920, more than a century of legends have been made over its mile and one-half journey. You can watch and wager on the Arc with Xpressbet and 1/ST BET. Post time for the main event is 10:20 am ET, while the Longchamp card begins at 7:55 am ET.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Arc de Triomphe in post position order (Race 5 from Longchamp):
#1-ZARAKEM: Though a winner in 6 of 12 starts, his 11th-place finish in the Juddmonte International last out at York brings the Group 1 quality of this Group 2 winner into question. Runner-up in June’s Group 1 Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot did win the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt over this Longchamp course in April. Cristian Demuro, who piloted Ace Impact to Arc glory last year and Sottsass to the 2020 crown, rides.
#2-FANTASTIC MOON: German 4-year-old won his nation’s Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden last month and has been in strong form since summer. But note he was last of 9 at Longchamp in April in the Group 1 Prix Ganay and 11th of 15 in last year’s renewal of the Arc de Triomphe. Rene Pechulek, winner of the ’21 Arc with Torquator Tasso, rides.
#3-BLUESTOCKING: Juddmonte home-bred filly was a six-figure supplement to enter the Arc late in the mix. Her Group 1 Prix Vermeille victory September 15 helped propel her into the Arc. That win was over the mile and one-half trip at Longchamp as she’ll be tasked Sunday. Runner-up to Goliath in the Group 1 King George this summer fits her against top males. Rossa Ryan will be in the saddle.
#4-AVENTURE: Three-year-old filly exits a close runner-up in the Prix Vermeille over this course and distance September 15 behind Arc rival Bluestocking. She’ll try to follow 2017 Arc winner Enable as recent sophomore fillies to find Arc success. The daughter of Sea the Stars has won 3 of 7 in the colors of Wertheimer & Frere. Stephane Pasquier, winner of the ’06 Arc, has the call.
#5-SOSIE: Second-favorite in the international betting markets for the Arc, this is the colt counterpart to Aventure – another 3-year-old by Sea the Stars for Wertheimer & Frere. His third in the French Derby is his only defeat in 4 starts this year, recently adding the Group 2 Prix Neil over this course and distance. Andre Fabre trains and looks to add to his record 8 Arc victories. Maxime Guyon rides in search of his first.
#6-SURVIE: Three-year-old filly was no match for Bluestocking when seventh in the September 15 Prix Vermeille over this course and distance. She is a Group 2 winner locally at the Arc trip in July, her only win from 5 starts this year. Nicolas Clement, who trained 1990 Arc winner Saumarez, will have Tom Marquand in the saddle.
#7-DELIUS: Lightly raced 3-year-old colt for Jean-Claude Rouget won his first 3 starts prior to a third-place run in Longchamp’s 12-furlong Grand Prix de Paris in July. Returned from a freshening to be second to Sosie the Group 2 Prix Neil. Rouget knows his way around the Arc, winning last year with Ace Impact and in 2020 with Sottsass. Son of Frankel will be ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, who seeks his first Arc.
#8-LOOK DE VEGA: Favored runner in the international betting markets for the Arc. The 2024 Group 1 French Derby winner saw his perfect mark end at 3 straight when finishing third to Sosie and Delius in the September 15 Group 2 Prix Neil at Longchamp when he found himself on the lead earlier than anticipated. Should be noted that he defeated Sosie in the French Derby at Chantilly. Trained by the father-son duo of Carlos and Yann Lerner. Regular rider Ronan Thomas returns.
#9-AL RIFFA: Trainer Joseph O’Brien’s 4-year-old is well-traveled in 4 starts this year from France to Saratoga to England to Germany most recently. He’s back to Longchamp, where he ran fourth in April’s Group 1 Prix Ganay. The 2022 Group 1 National Stakes-winning juvenile is 1-for-6 since that freshman season, getting back on the winning track August 11 in the Group 1 Goresser Preis von Berlin. Legendary Japenese rider Yutaka Take rides him for the first time Sunday.
#10-LOS ANGELES: Aidan O’Brien’s 2024 Group 1 Irish Derby winner has won 5 of 7 starts, all in the UK, and is third choice in the international betting markets for Arc victory. He exits a disappointing foray into the elite, elder horse ranks when fourth September 14 in the Group 1 Irish Champion when finishing on the hip of Arc rival Shin Emperor. Ryan Moore teamed with O’Brien to win the 2016 Arc with Found (both have 2 Arc wins overall).
#11-SHIN EMPEROR: Japanese-based and French-bred, this 3-year-old colt exits a third-place finish in the Group 1 Irish Champion at Leopardstown in his first of two races on the roadtrip. After starting his career 2-for-2, this year’s Japanese Derby third-place finisher has dropped 5 straight decisions. Acclaimed trainer Yoshito Yahagi turns the reins over to Ryusei Sakai, the connections American fans may recall from Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Forever Young this spring.
#12-SEVENNA’S KNIGHT: Eight-time Arc-winning trainer Andre Fabre brings this 4-year-old by Camelot into Sunday’s main event off a Longchamp Group 3 win September 8. Sevenna’s Knight has won 3 of his last 4 at the Group 2/Group 3 level, but his lone defeat was a distant sixth of 7 in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Mickael Barzalona aims for his first Arc-winning ride.
#13-HAYA ZARK: Five-year-old is one of the veteran members of this year’s Arc with 20 prior starts, winning 6. Runner-up in Longchamp’s September 8 Group 3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte after 105 days on the sideline. Showed his best form by winning April’s Group 1 Prix Ganay over this course. Beat only 1 horse home in last year’s Arc when finishing 14th. Top-class jockey William Buck rides the longshot in his bid to win his first Arc de Triomphe.
#14-CONTINUOUS: Third Aidan O’Brien charge in the Arc lineup, this Japanese-bred has won 5 of 11 in the UK and France. Fifth in last year’s Arc while arguably in better form. Exits a third-place run in Longchamp’s Group 2 Prix Foy on September 15, having prior won a Group 3 at home in Ireland. Christophe Soumillon rode last out and retains the call in search of his third Arc victory (2003, 2008 prior).
#15-SUNWAY: French-based sophomore was seventh in this year’s French Derby to Arc rival Look De Vega and then second in the Irish Derby behind Arc opponent Los Angeles. Third most recently at Doncaster in the Group 1 St. Leger. He’s dropped all 6 starts since returning from a 168-day winter break. Jockey Oisin Murphy has won many of the world’s biggest races, but has yet to secure an Arc trophy.
#16-MQSE DE DEVIGNE: Third Andre Fabre entrant in this year’s Arc as he bids for a record-padding ninth victory in this race. This 5-year-old mare has won 8 of 17, finishing first or second a remarkable 14 times. She’s won 4 in a row, including a trio of Group 1s at Deauville and Longchamp. Alexis Pouchin has been aboard for that streak and seeks his first Arc victory.
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