Arc de Triomphe Form Guide 2011
Below we have provided important background information on several of the leading contenders for the 2011 Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp, we will be following all of the main contenders through the season as we build up to the big race at the start of October. One that will be of interest will be Workforce who of course won the race last year and has stayed in training with the aim of heading back to Longhcamp for another tilt at the race.
2011 Arc Contenders and Form
Workforce
The 2010 winner has the 2011 Arc as his main aim once again this season and is being trained with that in mind by Sir Michael Stoute. He started his campaign this season with a comfortable win in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in Group 3 company before stepping up in class in the Coral Eclipse. Workforce ran well to finish a close second to So You Think over 1m 2f, it was a good run and although he came up short he should be better over the extra Arc trip. We last saw Workforce when he came in second nehind Nathaniel in the King George Stakes at Ascot, he hung alarmingly that day which is a worry but most feel he would have won had he ran straight.
Latest Workforce Arc De Triomphe 2011 Odds
Sarafina
The Alain De Royer Dupre trained fillie is an interesting Arc runner this year having stayed in training with the race as a specific target. Sarafina was a top class horse last season and that culminated in a third place finish in the Arc behind Workforce and her form this year is better than ever three impressive wins to her name. She seems to be a better horse this year and although she has something to find with Workforce after the Arc last year she has been aimed at Longchamp all season and could be a major player in the race.
Latest Sarafina Arc De Triomphe 2011 Win Odds
Meandre
Andre Fabre is the master trainer when it comes to the Arc De Triomphe and following the sudden retirement of Pour Moi, it appears that Meandre will be the first string for Fabre at Longchamp. The three-year-old has won on three successive occasions this season with the most impressive coming at Longchamp in July when he won the Grand Prix De Paris in fine style to claim a nice Group 1 win. He looks to be one of the better contenders from the Classic generation and with Fabre as his trainer he has to be a serious contender for the Arc this season, despite having something to find on the face of his form.
Latest Meandre Arc De Triomphe 2011 Win Odds
Galikova
The younger sister of the wondermare Goldikova has really made a name for herself in 2011 and following a number of impressive runs Galikova now looks likely to take her chance at Longchamp. The horse is trained by Freddy Head and after winning the Prix Vermeille she confirmed she stayed the Arc trip, she is clearly a highly progressive sort and looks to have every chance of running a big race. Her older sister Goldikova is known for running over a mile but Galikova clearly gets the extra half a mile on offer in the Arc and is an interesting runner this year as one of the few top class three-year-olds in the race.
Latest Galikova Arc De Triomphe 2011 Odds
So You Think
Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that he will aim to run So You Think in the Arc at Longchamp, the former Australian superstar has had a brilliant first year in Europe and a win in the Arc could well be the icing on the cake. So You Think was a superstar in Australia before being moved to Europe at the start of the year, he has shown glimpses of brilliance when winning the Eclipse and the Irish Champion Stakes. His win in the Eclipse came at the expense of Workforce who he will face again here, that was over the shorter trip though and doubts remain about whether this might be too far. There is no doubt that So You Think is full of class and while he has not always been as electric as anticipated it would be no surprise to see him win here.
