New favorite for the Arc de Triomphe
DiscreetCat
Moderator
From the Racing Post:
MONTMARTRE produced a stunning performance to rout his rivals in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on Monday night and propel himself to the head of the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Totesport make Montmartre 4-1 favourite for the Arc after he trounced Prospect Wells by four lengths, with the firm's Damian Walker saying: "We couldn't have been more impressed."
Ladbrokes also make the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained colt their 4-1 favourite and such is the strength in depth that his trainer and owner the Aga Khan have, it was his stablemate Zarkava he replaced at the head of the Arc market, although Coral retain her as their 5-1 favourite with Montmartre 6-1 (from 25). Paddy Power cutMontmartre to 11-2 third favourite (from 25s).
British and Irish hopes failed to make the first three with Doctor Fremantle, fourth in the Derby at Epsom, filling the same spot under Ryan Moore having broken slowly at the start.
Christophe Soumillon always had Montmartre handily placed as Ballydoyle's William Hogarth and his own pacemaker Sindajan cut out a strong pace.
Soumillon's mount hit the front over two furlongs out and once the rider changed his hands Montmartre surged clear.
His four-length winning margin over Prospect Wells, who stayed on well from the back of the field to beat Magadan by a half-length, would have been more but for Soumillon easing down in the closing stages.
The jockey could face a tricky choice between Montmartre and Zarkava this autumn but for now was savouring that prospect.
Soumillon said: "He's a perfect sort for the Arc and he was born to win the race. I'm not going to comment on which horse I will ride as I have three months to decide. Both Zarkava and him are out of the ordinary.
"He was very tense before the Jockey-Club and it wasn't his trip. Today with pace over a mile and a half he showed his true quality."
The one blip on Montmartre's record was in the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly where he finished 15th of the 20 runners, a run his connections blamed on him getting upset by the racecourse atmosphere, and he showed signs of nerves again before Monday night's race.
De Royer-Dupre said: "We always knew he was good and that's why we ran him directly in the Jockey-Club after a maiden. It's a wonderful problem to have when you have two horses which could run in the Arc de Triomphe."
Stablemate Zarkava is unbeaten and the Aga Khan said: "It is possible that we could go into the Arc with two horses after this victory and Montmartre is clearly a colt on the way up.
"We always knew he was good but he's not easy to train. He got a little nervous in the parade but was fine afterwards.
"Alain has done a fabulous job. We wanted to set a good pace to help him relax."
The first three home had all finished unplaced in the Jockey-Club and Pierre Yves Bureau, racing manager for the Wertheimer Brothers, owners of Prospect Wells, said: "He ran very well and it was a different story from the Jockey-Club. The distance suited him but he was a little out of his ground."
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Khalid Abdulla, the owner of Doctor Fremantle, said: "He ran a very decent race but we missed the kick which made it difficultfor himself. We were beaten by a good horse and have no complaints."
Curtain Call could only finish tenth under Frankie Dettori and part-owner
Jimmy George said: "Frankie said he travelled very well and he was in a perfect position but didn't pick upon the ground, it was disappointing."
MONTMARTRE produced a stunning performance to rout his rivals in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on Monday night and propel himself to the head of the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Totesport make Montmartre 4-1 favourite for the Arc after he trounced Prospect Wells by four lengths, with the firm's Damian Walker saying: "We couldn't have been more impressed."
Ladbrokes also make the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained colt their 4-1 favourite and such is the strength in depth that his trainer and owner the Aga Khan have, it was his stablemate Zarkava he replaced at the head of the Arc market, although Coral retain her as their 5-1 favourite with Montmartre 6-1 (from 25). Paddy Power cutMontmartre to 11-2 third favourite (from 25s).
British and Irish hopes failed to make the first three with Doctor Fremantle, fourth in the Derby at Epsom, filling the same spot under Ryan Moore having broken slowly at the start.
Christophe Soumillon always had Montmartre handily placed as Ballydoyle's William Hogarth and his own pacemaker Sindajan cut out a strong pace.
Soumillon's mount hit the front over two furlongs out and once the rider changed his hands Montmartre surged clear.
His four-length winning margin over Prospect Wells, who stayed on well from the back of the field to beat Magadan by a half-length, would have been more but for Soumillon easing down in the closing stages.
The jockey could face a tricky choice between Montmartre and Zarkava this autumn but for now was savouring that prospect.
Soumillon said: "He's a perfect sort for the Arc and he was born to win the race. I'm not going to comment on which horse I will ride as I have three months to decide. Both Zarkava and him are out of the ordinary.
"He was very tense before the Jockey-Club and it wasn't his trip. Today with pace over a mile and a half he showed his true quality."
The one blip on Montmartre's record was in the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly where he finished 15th of the 20 runners, a run his connections blamed on him getting upset by the racecourse atmosphere, and he showed signs of nerves again before Monday night's race.
De Royer-Dupre said: "We always knew he was good and that's why we ran him directly in the Jockey-Club after a maiden. It's a wonderful problem to have when you have two horses which could run in the Arc de Triomphe."
Stablemate Zarkava is unbeaten and the Aga Khan said: "It is possible that we could go into the Arc with two horses after this victory and Montmartre is clearly a colt on the way up.
"We always knew he was good but he's not easy to train. He got a little nervous in the parade but was fine afterwards.
"Alain has done a fabulous job. We wanted to set a good pace to help him relax."
The first three home had all finished unplaced in the Jockey-Club and Pierre Yves Bureau, racing manager for the Wertheimer Brothers, owners of Prospect Wells, said: "He ran very well and it was a different story from the Jockey-Club. The distance suited him but he was a little out of his ground."
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Khalid Abdulla, the owner of Doctor Fremantle, said: "He ran a very decent race but we missed the kick which made it difficultfor himself. We were beaten by a good horse and have no complaints."
Curtain Call could only finish tenth under Frankie Dettori and part-owner
Jimmy George said: "Frankie said he travelled very well and he was in a perfect position but didn't pick upon the ground, it was disappointing."