Money alone does not guarantee a race's status. History and tradition are vital ingredients in bestowing prestige on an event, and few races presently run anywhere on the globe enjoy the cachet that the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400 m.) does. This year's renewal of the world's finest weight-for-age race is to be held at Longchamp in Paris, France, on Sunday, October 4^th at 3:55 p.m. local (7:25 p.m. in India). Altogether 18 top-class Thoroughbreds have accepted, with every runner fighting for a share of the €2,857,000 prize (about Rs.21 crores). These include three supplementary entries, each at a cost of €120,000 (Rs.88 lakhs).  

Having come close on several occasions, the Japanese may well have been expected to field a couple of challengers but this year they are conspicuous by their absence. Thus the field consists of 13 home-trained runners accompanied by a pair of British-trained challengers along with another three from further afield, the last group representing the Emerald Isle.

Many an "Arc" has been won and lost due to the surface conditions. As it is the beginning of Fall when this race is run – on the first Sunday in October each year – the weather tends to be unsettled and bog-like ground has greeted the runners on some occasions. Not this year, though. Barring freak conditions, the going should be no worse than "good-to-soft" and perhaps even "good". A spokesman said: "The race has fallen very well weather-wise and Sunday afternoon should be bright and warm."

Past experience shows that the final result is rarely a matter of the first three in the betting ending up being the placed horses – some unconsidered horse invariably gets a share of the prize! Only about half the field possesses the credentials to win and of these none more so than the great Treve (by Motivator). Now five years of age, she is one of only seven dual winners of this race, and unless the ground gets too hard, it will take a mighty effort to dethrone the dark bay, who races for Al Shaqab Racing.

Last year prior to her second "Arc" she appeared to be "a mere shadow of her 2013 avatar" but proved that assumption to be totally wrong in telling fashion. Criquette Head-Maarek's experienced racemare is in imperious form, as was evidenced by her facile trouncing of her toiling rivals in the Prix Vermeille over course and distance three weeks ago. The verdict then was six lengths, an astonishing margin for a Group 1 event! Moreover she positively sizzled in her last workout. "This year Treve is physically stronger and back to her best, both in training and on the track as her performance in the Prix Vermeille showed,” added her trainer. “And we now know how to shoe her better."

With usual rider Thierry Jarnet in the saddle, Treve bids fair to become the first-ever horse to annex three "Arcs". Her current quote is a shade over evens, which frankly is a bit short, though it is expected to lengthen due to support for the opposition.

To ensure that the race is not contested at a dawdling pace, connections have supplemented the lowly-rated Shahah (also by Motivator), rated about 20-25 points short of the level required to win this. The filly will probably be ignored by many of her rivals but ought to be able to set an even tempo that will allow her more illustrious stablemate the opportunity to relax in the early stages.

It's interesting to reflect that the next pair in the betting were no more than yearlings frolicking in a paddock back in the day when Treve won her first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe! Now they have grown up and are trying to put one over their senior while enjoying a significant weight advantage. Both are at 9 to 2 and we are speaking of the English and French Derby winners of 2015, Golden Horn (by Cape Cross) and New Bay (by Dubawi) respectively. Neither has been out of 1-2 in its career.

Golden Horn, one of the supplementary entries, lost a touch of his lustre when narrowly going under in the Juddmonte International at York in August. The relaxed three-year-old has since won the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, during a sunny afternoon meeting in Dublin three weeks ago which this writer was privileged to attend. He will have the inestimable advantage of partnering with the quick-thinking Frankie Dettori on his back. Although the pair is returning to 2400 m., after a trio of 10 furlong efforts, this should not affect his chances at all. The tactics employed will be very interesting as the versatile dark bay colt has scored from far behind earlier and also when making all, as he did last time. One can be sure that John Gosden will have Golden Horn at his very best for his sternest test yet.

So outstanding is Juddmonte Racing's professionally-managed operation that the outfit invariably comes up with at least one top-notcher each term. New Bay is their latest star and like Treve is a course and distance winner three weeks ago. One can expect veteran Andre Fabre to ensure he strips as fit as hands can make him. In jumps-jockey-turned-flat-rider Vincent Cheminaud, Fabre has unearthed a rare talent and the pair will make the finish interesting.

Ireland's omnipresent schooler, Aidan O'Brien, who has swept all before him in his native land, has hoisted but a single flag in this particular race, the occasion being the victory of Dylan Thomas some 8 years ago. Last year he supplemented Tapestry (by Galileo) but she came up empty. The lightly-raced four-year-old is back for another crack and is a 33 to 1 shot with Joseph O'Brien in the irons. The senior O'Brien also fields the very consistent Found (by Galileo) who has a mere length to make up on Golden Horn but is at 14 to 1, about thrice his price. Can one completely ignore Ryan Moore aboard a runner with a definite chance at those odds? Like the other members of the 2012 crop mentioned earlier, she too has never been unplaced.

Many feel Golden Horn was lucky to keep the Irish Champion Stakes in view of the interference to Free Eagle (by High Chaparral), who fell back to third on that occasion. With Pat Smullen at the controls, the Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old is back in an attempt to take revenge and certainly has a chance in what might be his swan song before he joins the roster at the Irish National Stud at Tully in Co. Kildare. Moyglare's home-bred is available at 14 to 1.

Another "Eagle" in the line-up is Lady Bamford's Eagle Top (by Pivotal), a stablemate of Golden Horn who is not to be mistaken for a pacemaker. Although winless this term, the gorgeous chestnut was beaten by a mere nose in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, form that is of a high order, and can be considered for the minor placings – his win odds are 33 to 1.

Like Gosden, Head-Maarek and O'Brien, Fabre is double-handed. His other runner, the ever reliable Flintshire (by Dansili) occupied the runner-up stall after this very race last year and has never been unplaced since then. He's another to scrutinize carefully and could represent value at 20 to 1. Maxime Guyon is pencilled in to steer Juddmonte's second string.

One handler who has three arrows to his quiver is Alain Couetil, but of his team only Spiritjim (by Galileo) needs a mention and that is because of the vote of confidence placed in him by his team who have stumped up the necessary €120,000 for a spot in the starting gate. A far lower amount (€7,200) was needed for the Aga Khan's Dolniya (by Azamour) to enter – at her best she has a sliver of a chance, although it will require more than one of her rivals to run below par simultaneously. Alain de Royer-Dupre's charge was fifth in this race last year under Christophe Soumillon, who will be back for another attempt.

Given the usual caveats that the draw, pace and luck of the race will play a part, the cream will assuredly rise to the top and Treve, Golden Horn, New Bay and Found form my idea of a short list from which the winner should emerge.