John Gosden’s Cracksman confirmed to miss the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The decision to miss Europe's biggest middle-distance race is not a surprise, as connections had previously expressed their reservations of heading to Chantilly.
JOHN GOSDEN'S hugely talented three-year-old Cracksman will not run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly next Sunday, owner Anthony Oppenheimer told Press Association Sport.
Whilst the decision to miss Europe's premier-middle prize will disappoint some, connections have repeatedly insisted that a return to France was always likely and, with the race taking place next Sunday, Cracksman has been confirmed a non-runner.
The owner had previously suggested that the decision might come down to the availability of Frankie Dettori, who appears set to ride hot favourite Enable in the race instead. However, Oppenheimer has now given an alternative reason to swerve the Arc.
Oppenheimer said: "I think it had a lot to do with Chantilly itself. A lot depends on the size of the field.
MOST READ
"If it was at Longchamp, where the track is wider and the bends are not as tight, it may have been an easier decision."
Cracksman, a son of Frankel, dominated his rivals in last month's Great Voltigeur at York and was just as impressive in the Prix Niel over the Arc course and distance a fortnight ago.
Gosden and Oppenheimer still have the option of the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 21, but Cracksman is far from certain to line up.
Oppenheimer said: "The horse is well, which is the main thing.
Templegate's Treble
NAP 3.40 Uttoxeter - Midnight Cowboy: 'I’m confident he’s better than this grade'
NB 3.50 Plumpton - Kentford Heiress: 'He’s got a great record around this distance'
TREBLE 2.20 Plumpton - Lord Huntingdon: 'Personal best when winning at Bangor last month'
"He is in the Champion Stakes, which personally I would say is equally unlikely as the Arc, but that is still four weeks away.
"I haven't been down to Newmarket for a little while, but if the horse was bouncing out of his skin and let us say the ground came up heavy to soft and it blunted the speed of some of those mile-and-a-quarter horses, there could be some merit in it.
"He is a fresh horse, but I would say the Champion Stakes is a backstop as we've always said we wanted to run him in a four-year-old and we want him to be fresh for that."