Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe review with Peter Day

| Mon 3 October, 2011

That was one of the most disappointing days I've had at an Arc in 15 years.

So You Think, the Aussie champion and conqueror of 4 group races in Europe was sent out as an "interesting" runner in the 2011 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. Shunned by the racing tipsters in France ahead of home bred horses , he was called onto the track as "the NZ champion with Group success in Europe". It was only the English papers who presented his Australian racing success and Australian equine chances to land the most watched Classic race in Europe.

But little today was representative of Australia's chance to land Europe's richest race. Jumping from barrier 14 was always going to present it's challenges. From the jump it obvious that SYT was going to be put into a position that he had never been in before, nor won from. The outer gates represent the "grandstands" back home, and rather than allow SYT to assume his normal quick early speed to position off the pace, Heffernman pulled him back to the tail of the field and sought a run from "above". Not even the mighty Sea The Stars had clawed back from such a position. Hefferman was asleep at the wheel.

Already he has been bagged in racing circles for not being able to feel the horse or dictate the terms on the horse under him, but Seamus Heffernman was left with dirt on his face with an incompetent ride aboard the dual Cox winner. As an Australian in the crowd it was a crushing blow to watch our champion left with absolutely no conceivable chance to win.

Heffernman was quoted in the press as stating it was a "tough race to judge", when the replay showed he was "silent" aboard the Aussie juggernaught until the turn for home. Accustomed tp sitting off the pace, where all Arc winners have sprung from, SYT made up ground to run into fourth and be the best placed of the favourities.

Whilst Heffernan wanted to replay the Arc and "get into a better position if I had the chance again", the most obvious question is the lack of depth in the O'Brien stable that allows a horse of this calibre to be left in the hands of a jockey who made no positive impact on the horse from start the finish.

The winner Danedream was impressive, and the result of the 2011 Arc with a 1-2-3 finish to the fillies and mares leaves a lot of interest leading into the Breeders cup meeting in the USA next month. As an Australian, I can only hope that Heffernman is not allowed to take the precious mount on board SYT and be left again "hoping" that he found a better position.

Peter Day for PTT at Le Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe