Peslier - taken to win Arc again. (Allsport)
TO most pundits Sunday's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (3.20) at Longchamp is a virtual match between the big two Montjeu and Sinndar but the stopwatch suggests that VOLVORETA could be the fly in the ointment and at 14/1 with Totalbet.com, could prove the standout bet.
Carlos Lerner's lightly raced filly won both starts as a juvenile at Deauville and Longchamp and made a successful reappearance in Group III company at St Cloud in April.
On the strength of those efforts she was made favourite for the Prix Diane (French
Oaks) at Chantilly in June, but suffered her only reversal when beating all but Egyptband.
Considering she cracked her hoof in the lead-up to the French Classic, and was possibly feeling the injury during the race, she ran an absolute corker.
Returning to the fray in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp three weeks ago, she turned the tables on her Chantilly conqueror in decisive fashion and can become the first three-year-old filly to lift the Arc since 1982.
Of the three Arc trials run over an identical course and distance at Longchamp that day she clocked a time superior to both Montjeu and Sinndar and while too much cannot and should not be read into direct time comparisons, she at least proved she can cope with life in the fast lane.
A daughter of 1991 Arc winner Suave Dancer she clocked a career best stopwatch rating three weeks ago and the booking of Olivier Peslier strengthens her hand.
Her name is latin for 'little butterfly', and her handler reckons she will relish the predicted fast early pace. At the climax she could sting like a bee!
VOLVORETA 82f (82f)
SINNDAR 80f (80f)
EGYPTBAND 79f (79f)
MONTJEU 78f (8f)
DARING MISS 62g (62g)
RUSSIAN HOPE 59g (59g)
HESIODE 53f (22f)
RAYPOUR 52f (52f)
STOP BY 21f (-)