Brit pack ready for Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe challenge

While Kalpana may have emerged with a more favourable berth than Maltese Cross in Thursday night’s crucial draw for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, connections of both contenders have plenty of cause for optimism.

Andrew Balding’s five-year-old mare Kalpana could manage only seventh in last year’s Parisian showpiece, but she did go on to Ascot just two weeks later to win on British Champions Day for a second time.

She once again showed her love of Ascot when beating the boys in the King George in July and having won her fourth Group One at York, the fact she is breaking from stall six on Sunday, rather than a double-figure spot, is giving cause for optimism.

Balding said: “We’re very happy with the draw, it looks like a good spot and historically it’s been a good place to be. We’re looking forward to it.

“She’s on her way there, her preparation has gone very well and unless there’s any last-minutes hitches, she will arrive in very good form.

“It’s exciting, I’d say we’re hopeful rather than optimistic.”

William Haggas’ Maltese Cross was allotted stall 11, which has not housed a winner in the modern history of the race, although jockey Tom Marquand does not view it as a huge negative.

“I’m really fortunate to be riding him, he goes there with a great chance,” said Marquand.

“He stays, he’s got a great turn of foot, he enjoys Longchamp. Hopefully it will be a good weekend.

“He’s been fantastic all season and it’s great for George (Waud, owner) and the Somerville Lodge team. It’s been a really fun story to be part of and Sunday is a whole other kettle of fish, but he deserves to be there and to throw his hat into the ring.”

Regarding the draw, he said: “To me it’s just coincidental, horses have won from higher draws and lower draws. It’s probably just one of those random quirks.

“Obviously I would prefer to be in a lower stall, but you just have to play the cards you are dealt.”

The only defeat for Maltese Cross during this campaign has come in a soft-ground Derby in June and after winning over the Arc course-and-distance in the Grand Prix de Paris, he defied a penalty in the Great Voltigeur at York.

“What I like about him is every single race has been better than the previous one and I think York was certainly a step up on his Grand Prix de Paris form. At York he was clearly the best horse in the race,” said Haggas.

“The million dollar question is, ‘has he improved again since York?’. I think he’s improved physically. He’s not a great, flash worker at home so can be difficult to gauge.

“His work has been fine and he’s an easy horse to get fit and he takes no work, but he does also get fresh so there’s always a fine balance for us to make sure we give him enough work where he is not silly, but not too much where we knock him over and he is sober in his actions and not tired because he’s been over-trained. Hopefully we have it right.

“We can’t do anything about the weather or the draw, but the ground will be fine for him whatever it is. If it got too soft or heavy then that might hinder him as I don’t think he’s as good as that while favouring some of the others, but I think it will be nice ground and he will be fine.”

Bay City Roller is another Group One winner from the UK who is well worth his place in the field after a satisfactory trial behind Daryz in the Prix Foy.

His trainer George Scott will be banking on some Oisin Murphy magic from stall 15, however.

“We weren’t too far behind Daryz last time,” said Scott. “Under the circumstances it was a stiff task, but we achieved what we wanted to and that was to race on grass at the track and now the Arc is going to be a different set of circumstances that I think will only aid Bay City.

“I think the hustle and bustle of the race and the build-up will be no bother to him and we know he’s a top-class horse but also that in his conditions (soft) things are even better for him. We’ll be going with cautious optimism.”