The dry and sunny weather forecast at the 2,400-meter (1½ miles) Longchamp racecourse could make the conditions difficult on Sunday for some runners, including Workforce, who prefers slower ground.
In Friday’s draw, the four-year-old colt was handed stall eight, the same as last year. Trained by Michael Stoute and with jockey Ryan Moore aboard, Workforce will attempt to become the first back-to-back champion since Alleged won for a second time in 1978.
“I hope it’s as lucky as last year. He’s fared better (in the draw) than some of the other fancied runners,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Workforce owner Khalid Abdullah.
“The horse is in very good shape,” he added. “Sir Michael is very happy with him. There have not been many dual Arc winners and we’ve got a bit of work to do to join them.”
Fillies Sarafina and Galikova are among the favorites.
The four-year-old Sarafina was unlucky in last year’s race when she lost ground by colliding with Midas Touch but produced a strong finish to take third place.
Sarafina won her last three races, including the Prix Foy, a warm-up for the Arc. She will start from stall 13.
Galikova will start from stall four and has a significant advantage. As a three-year-old filly, she carries the least weight among the 16 runners.
Galikova won four races this year, including the Prix Vermeille. The half-sister to the legendary Goldikova will be ridden by Olivier Peslier, a three-time Arc winner.
The field also includes Australian colt So You Think, four-year-old filly Snow Fairy, Reliable Man and 2010 runner-up Nakayama Festa.
So You Think is bidding to become the first runner from the southern hemisphere to win the Arc. He beat Workforce in the Coral Eclipse Stakes but does not have much experience at the 1½ mile distance.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained So You Think won the Arc with Dylan Thomas in 2007 but will have to overcome a wide draw when he starts from stall 14, away from the inside rail.
Snow Fairy won the Epsom Oaks and the Irish Oaks last year and thrives in fast ground conditions.
“We’re not in one to eight, but neither are So You Think or Sarafina, so that’s what has happened,” Snow Fairy trainer Ed Dunlop said. “With her I don’t think it’s as essential as a horse who needs to be close to the pace. We’ve got what we’ve got, so we’ll make the most of it.”
Reliable Man is the son of 2003 Arc winner Dalakhani. He won four races this year, including the Prix Niel, but like Workforce also prefers good ground.
Masked Marvel, Meandre and Danedream were late additions to the field.
Meandre won the Grand Prix de Paris and is trained by Andre Fabre, the most successful trainer in Arc history with seven victories.
Danedream won the Baden Grand Prix and the Berlin Grand Prix and is bidding to become the first Arc champion from Germany since Star Appeal in 1975.
Total prize money for the Arc is €4 million ($5.4 million), with €2,285,600 ($3.1 million) going to the winner.
