Dettori in frame for Shirocco Arc ride

14 April 2012

Christophe Soumillon stole the show at Longchamp with a clean sweep of victories in the meeting's three trials for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

But although the 20-year-old Belgian might have been the answer to punters' prayers in France, Soumillon's golden touch has left unanswered questions over riding arrangements for the three horses on which he was successful if all of themline up in the Arc in three weeks' time.

Last year's Breeders' Cup Turf hero Shirocco delighted his connections when gamely holding stablemate Hurricane Run in a tight finish to the Prix Foy.

Although neither horse - nor the eyecatching Pride in third - was asked for maximum effort, Shirocco still looked the more willing of the pair in the final stages.

The pair will renew their rivalry in the Arc, where trainer Andre Fabre believes that softer ground could help Hurricane Run close the gap as he bids to land the race for the second year running. They are 3-1 joint-favourites with bookmakers VCBet.

Paul Harley, racing manager to Shirocco's owner Baron Georg von Ullman, revealed afterwards that Shirocco may this year run in the Classic contest on dirt rather than the Turf event at the Breeders' Cup.

But Harley and the good Baron soon had other matters on their mind when Soumillon went and won the Prix Vermeille-aboard Mandesha, owned by the Aga Khan with whom the jockey has a retainer.

Should the Aga decide to supplement Mandesha to the Arc line-up (at a cost of 760,000) then Shirocco will need a new jockey for the race.

Harley, while admitting that he would hope to maintain the partnership with Soumillon, immediately nominated Frankie Dettori as a possible replacement.

Soumillon completed his hat-trick in the trials when Rail Link held off Mick Channon's Youmzain for the Prix Neil.

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