Anyone going to Paris this weekend?

[Mtoto]

... to see the greatest Flat racehorse of the last 20 years canter up in the Arc? And if so, are you, like me, verging on incontinence with the excitement of it all?

Sea The Stars was still about 5-6 on Betfair before they suspended for the supplementaries. My instincts would normally be to take on an odd-on chance in a race like this, particularly with a maximum field, but even if he gets drawn on the outside, I just can't see Sea The Stars getting beaten. He just has too much cruising speed, always pings the start and should be able to settle 5th or 6th even if he draws stall 20.

Anyone else going in head first too?

 

[Taybha]

wish i was going ,i cant see another horse winning the race but havnt the balls to lump on, ive done a forecast sea of stars to beat getaway and getaway each way. enjoy the day

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

I went last year but can’t make it this year. I don't go along with the 140 rating in Timeform for See the Stars but agree it's difficult to see him being beaten, unless there's a monsoon. All the opposition look inferior, although there does remain a slight doubt about his stamina in a really strong run race. The older horses are a poor bunch this season and if he is beaten it'll be by another three year old. Cavalryman at 10-1 is not a bad price given he's the Prix Niel winner trained by A.Fabre, and Fame and Glory will be a much tougher nut to crack back over 12F.

 

[pasty]

Nope, but I'm flying to Amsterdam tomorrow though

 

[Ernest]

Rather be watching Huntingdon, Kelso and Uttoxeter, put 8 flights of hurdles in front of STS and I'd be interested

 

[Mtoto]

Can see why you might doubt the Timeform rating Lyndhurst, as he's not been beating anything by more than a couple of lengths or so, but at the same time, his overall form is incredibly solid. Rip Van Winkle is the only horse to even get him into any semblance of a fight, and that was mainly because Sea The Stars got to the front too soon and started to take it easy. RVW has now won two Group Ones since and will be the likely winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic if Sea The Stars does not make the trip. Fame And Glory and Mastercraftsman won Group Ones after finishing behind him. Even Lord Shanakill, who was 12th in the Guineas, has ended up a Group One winner.

As for stamina, Longchamp is tricky to ride but it's basically flat, and on good ground it's a lot less demanding than Epsom. The record time for the Derby is about eight seconds slower than the record time for the Arc.

 

[ezzoud]

Hope I'm wrong but I've just got a nagging suspicion that having been on the go since early May, he might be starting to go over the top now - might still be able to win of course.

Have a good time Mtoto - haven't been to Longchamp since Urban Sea won (when was that 93ish?)

 

[Mellotron]

Whatever happened to Desert Orchid?

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

Whatever happened to Desert Orchid?

I'm off to Lisbon for a funeral on Saturday so I'll keep a look out.........

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Enjoy the day Mtoto – Longchamps is a great experience and excellent value at 8 euros when you compare it to the 40 or 50 quid they charge at Royal Ascot. It always surprises me how many Brits and Irish there are compared to the number of French spectators !

 

[Mtoto]

Yep, 1993. Won the Arc and then produced two Derby winners, though sadly died after foaling back in March. A record that will surely never be matched.

You're right that there's always a chance he will be over the top, but what's encouraging is the way he's progressed physically over the summer. He looked fantastic before the Derby, but even so, not quite the finished article. By all accounts, he's really rounded off now.

That should help to extend his season, and he's never really had a hard race either. In fact, it's just as likely that he'll be retired while he's still improving.

 

[Ernest]

This is why I hate the flat, you just get to know a horse and appreciate its abilities and off it goes to stud.
Prefer the jumps as my favourites go on for many seasons god willing.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Just been talking about this with a race-going colleague, who was surprised I'd never been. I've heard Longchamp is a great day out, the French don't really go racing in the same numbers hence the very reasonable entrance, and it will be about 60 per cent Brits on the day, which is a bit weird. Sometimes you can just admire a truly great horse, no need to get involved financially on that race.

My mate used to work with a trainer at Chantilly, which having just googled the image looks bloody amazing. Will have to go there one day as well. The only French track I've ever been to was Toulouse during World Cup 98 for the world-famous Languedoc Derby.

 

[Mtoto]

That's just the way it is Ernest, suits some people and not others. Personally I love seeing the offspring of horses that I've admired starting to race themselves a couple of years later. And it's money, when it comes down to it. Sea The Stars will cover at least 150 mares a year at a minimum of 50 grand a go. You have to be very sporting indeed to turn that down and keep him racing at four.



Chantilly is indeed quite something, Tooting, though if you're going to go it's worth making a weekend of it if you can, to get a feel for the place in the morning too. It's the French version of Newmarket - horses everywhere from the moment the sun comes up. You probably know this already, but the huge palace-like thing on the far side of the track is designed to be the world's grandest stable block.It was built by a loony French nobleman who believed he was going to be re-incarnated as a horse and wanted to retain his lavish lifestyle.

 

[Ernest]

Always fancied going to Auteil myself to see a bit of French jumping, some of the other weekend races look worth watching including Yeats final race.

 

[Martinf]

I still think Dancing Brave's Arc win was the best. Graham Goode: "But here comes Dancing Brave powering down the centre of the track"....woooosh!

YouTube - DancingBrave－Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

 

[empire]

normally leave well alone.but will be having a little dabble on stacelita

 

[Deleted User X18H]

I'd love to be going last time I went was 2002!

 

[dougdeep]

Paris or a wet and windy Withdean. Tough call.

 

[The Oldman]

Paris or a wet and windy Withdean. Tough call.

Did Paris last weekend with the Missus so it's wet & windy Withdean for me this weekend.