Boudot handed Arc ride on Thundering On

Pierre Charles Boudot has picked up the ride on Thundering On in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after Dylan Browne McMonagle failed to pass the doctors in time to return to the saddle for the ParisLongchamp spectacular.

Boudot’s agent Herve Naggar confirmed to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast that the three time French champion jockey who won the race on Waldgeist in 2019 has been snapped up by trainer Joseph O’Brien.

“He is very excited. He loves the filly and she has everything to (run well). She looks a bit like Minnie Hauk last year and to ride the best three-year-old filly in an Arc with the weight advantage and being in good form is really exciting for him,” said Naggar.

Thundering On, an impressive winner of the Oaks at Epsom on soft ground, disappointed in the Pretty Polly Stakes behind Estrange in June but returned to form on good ground over one mile two furlongs at the Curragh in the Group Two Blandford Stakes last time.

It is generally felt she would be better suited with a rain-softened surface but it looks as though she will not get that on Sunday.

“The forecast has been changing in the last few days,” said Naggar. “We are waiting for some rain tomorrow. I would say it is not going to be as fast as the day of the prep races but it is going to be French good ground.”

Boudot looks set to have a decent weekend of rides and Naggar picked out Christopher Head’s unbeaten two-year-old Avec Toi in the Jean-Luc Lagardere and Pink Panthera in the Prix de l’Opera as two highlights.

Naggar also represents Christophe Soumillon who has been booked for one of the Ballydoyle trio, Minnie Hauk, Benvenuto Cellini or Diamond Necklace depending on which way stable number one Ryan Moore elects to go.

“We are waiting for Ryan to make a choice,” said Naggar. “He has ridden the three of them and won a Group One with Diamond Necklace so she is a princess for him and he is unbeaten with her,” said Naggar.

“Minnie Hauk was beaten just a head in last year’s Arc. One of the two fillies would be his preference I would think.”