Read what the connections of this year's contenders have had to say, before their stable stars take part in Europe's most prestigious flat race.
2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe News - Quotes From Connections
Yann Lerner (Look De Vega)
For everyone in the equestrian world, an unbeaten horse who finds himself beaten in this way is surely a shock, but the horse had a big break this summer and we knew that he would surely be a bit lacking for this return, especially since he was clearly above his ideal weight, so there is nothing to be alarmed about.
Ronan Thomas (Look De Vega)
Last week I asked him for a little bit more from his work and he was really very impressive.
He showed that he had really needed his run in the Niel. That was what you would call a classic gallop and this morning was his final piece on the turf, designed to just keep him ticking over. He was even better than that, he did a remarkable piece of work.
Andre Fabre (Sosie and Mqse De Sevigne)
They are doing well. They just worked this morning and I was very pleased with them.
I fancy the mare (Mqse De Sevigne). So many people seem to think the Arc may be a bit far for her, but I have exactly the opposite opinion. I actually think an extra two furlongs will help her. She loves soft ground and her ability is not in question. She will adapt to the course and distance very well and she's in very good shape.
Sosie is a nice horse as well and he is coming forward at the right moment. If it goes very heavy ground, that won't help him, but soft ground will be fine. He's like a few horses I've had who have won the Arc, in that he is coming good at the right moment.
I would not like to say one in front of the other, but I think both have a good chance of being in the first four, say it like that.
French jockey Ronan Thomas (L) and his horse Look de Vega cross the finish line to win the 184th Qatar Prix du Jockey Club horse race at the Chantilly. (Getty)
Yoshito Yahagi (Shin Emperor)
We came to Ireland to win, so third place is disappointing, but I also think it was a good race for the next one, the Arc.
Coolmore had four starters but we had only one, so it was a tough race as expected. In Japan, it was too hot and he wasn't in good condition, but after coming to France he gradually improved his condition and I think he did well at 70-80 per cent.
Shin Emperor had been on a break since the (Japanese) Derby, but I think we got a sense that if we bring a horse with the right aptitude, he can do well. We will have to make sure of the condition of him, but all the staff will do their best to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Ryusei Sakai (Shin Emperor)
It was a tough race (Irish Champions Stakes), and I'm disappointed that I couldn't win. On the other hand, with such great competitors, I don't think there was any reason to be pessimistic about the Arc. I'll prepare well for the next race and do my best to achieve even better results.
Aidan O'Brien (Los Angeles and Continuous)
We think the most likely two are Los Angeles and Continuous. We think the ground probably isn’t going to be lively enough for the other two, Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg, and the filly (Opera Singer) might go to the l’Opera instead.
We don’t think we’ve seen the best of Los Angeles yet. He’s a very big horse, he’s improving physically and there’s no doubt a mile and a half is right up his alley.
He won the Irish Derby which is right-handed like Longchamp and we’ve been very happy. He’s had two preps really, he won the race at York (Great Voltigeur) and then when he went back to a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown. Hopefully we’ve done as much as we can for him to run as good a race as he can.
We were very happy with (Continuous') run in the trial, he finished third, it didn’t suit him to make the running but obviously it was going to be a slow pace. We think he’ll be much better in a strongly-run race and we’ve been very happy with him since.
We think both horses will handle an ease in the ground. Christophe (Soumillon) rode him the last day so it’s very possible he could ride him again.
Opera Singer will do a bit of work in the morning and we’ll see how she is. The intention of running her in the trial (Prix Vermeille) was to go back for the Arc, but we weren’t sure really what happened.
We could go back for the Opera as that is the easier option. We also think she wouldn’t want bad ground, so we’re debating whether to run in the Arc or the Opera.
Joseph O'Brien (Al Riffa)
We're very pleased with how his preparation is going. Since Germany the plan has been to go straight into the Arc. He's had an easy few weeks since then and then the last couple of weeks his work has ramped up - he's took everything in his stride.
I think the distance will be fine. He's won on good ground and softer ground so whatever way conditions may come, it should be fine for him.
He's a horse that performed very well at 10 furlongs earlier this season. His pedigree has plenty of stamina in it so we knew 12f would be no issue and he won impressively first time at 12 in Germany.
It was then we locked in the Arc as the logical next target and we're excited going with a live chance.
He's come back this year and ran very well in a number of big races around the world. We've been able to campaign him aggressively and he's taken it in his stride - and now there's no bigger race than the Arc.
Los Angeles (left) and Shin Emperor (second left) running in the Irish Champion Stakes. (Getty)
Ioritz Mendizabal (Delius)
Five days before the race, all the lights are green. This is the first time I have ridden him in the morning. He just did a little maintenance work, nothing more. We didn't go very fast and we just accelerated a little over about 300 meters.
I am really happy to be associated with him. I am calm, because I am one of the old ones in the dressing room. But that does not prevent me from savoring every minute. He ran well in the Niel. Of course, he was a little lively, but we know that he is a colt who has momentum. I was not hard on him. In my opinion, he will have a very good chance in the Arc.
Ralph Beckett (Bluestocking)
She’s very well, I’m happy with her. If she’s in the same form on Monday and Tuesday, and if the forecast is correct for France, then we will supplement on Wednesday.
I don’t want to make a decision until I have to and the French system gives us an extra couple of days, but we’re very pleased with her.
She won the Middleton Stakes on the day that the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe entries closed. At the time she wasn't even a Listed winner. I think today really suited her. When they're enjoying racing, as she is, it makes sense to carry on.
She appears not to (have any ground preferences). She wouldn't want it to be really fast. I sincerely hope that it's not as fast as it was last year for the Arc, and if it isn't she should be right in it.
Pierre-Yves Bureau (Representing the owners of Aventure)
The filly ran very well in the Prix Vermeille and Christophe Ferland prepared her very well. We will have to choose the race in which she will perform best. The most important thing is to know that the filly is in very good physical shape.
We spoke for a long time with Christophe Ferland and we really think that her best distance is 2,400 meters. She ran very well in the Vermeille and we think she has her place in the Arc.
Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten (Racing Manager for Fantastic Moon's owners)
It was world class (to win the Grosser Preis von Baden, he is the best horse in Germany and we will go to the Arc now.
Straight to the Arc, Rene will ride him. We are very happy, his turn of foot is so good on this ground, he needs good ground and to relax in the race.
That’s important for him, if he is too handy he cannot give his A-game and he needs good ground for his best form.
David Menuisier (Sunway)
He's run his heart out this year and had a fair degree of bad luck too, including when interfered with in the St Leger.
One day his luck will change and there would be no better race for that to happen in than the Arc. We have a better chance of winning by turning up than staying on the couch and I'd be frustrated watching it on TV knowing we could have sent such a genuine, brave horse.
He's learning all the time. The main thing he can improve is when he hits that flat spot in the final furlong, which perhaps is a bit of greenness still. When he has a gap he doesn't instantly go for it. He catches his breath and then goes, which is something he could do better.
He's an exciting horse to have and in my opinion he has every chance in what looks like one of the most open Arcs in a long time.
Jerome Reynier (Zarakem)
There are poor performances that we can't explain. Today, it was more to work on the mental than the physical. Eight days before the race, we are very happy with the horse's condition.
