Continuous and Fantastic Moon added to Arc de Triomphe field

The Heart’s Cry colt was not originally put forward for the European middle-distance championship, but entered the picture after his wide-margin Great Voltigeur Stakes win at York’s Ebor meeting in August.

His subsequent St Leger triumph, another convincing success at two and a three-quarter lengths, galvanised matters and the three-year-old was added to the line-up at a cost of £120,000 on Wednesday morning.

“It was always a possibility, we were delighted within him in Doncaster and we were delighted with him in York before that, when he won the Voltigeur,” O’Brien explained.

“When he won the Voltigeur, with the way he did it there it was always a strong possibility that if he ran well in Doncaster, or came forward like we thought he might have, that he could end up being supplemented for the Arc.

“We didn’t enter too many and our policy with the Arc is to only enter the really obvious ones because it’s expensive, but with that policy we are always happy to supplement.”

O’Brien has been pleased with the horse’s work since Doncaster and although he is mindful of the short turnaround between races, there were no hesitations in letting him take his chance in Paris.

“We’re very happy, he’s done two half-speeds (canters) and everything has gone well since,” he said.

“Obviously you do have concerns when you’re backing up, especially for a race like the Arc, but I think everyone is very happy to do it.

“Everyone was very happy this morning to supplement and I think the lads always had it in their heads that this was one that was going to be supplemented.”

Continuous will be joined by a German contender in Sarah Steinberg’s Fantastic Moon.

The German Derby victor took a key Arc trial in the Prix Niel, a Group Two run over the course and distance, but was ruled out of the big race on account of the likely occurrence of soft ground in Paris on Sunday.

Autumn in France has been warm and dry so far, however, causing connections to set aside Japan Cup and Breeders’ Cup aims and supplement their Sea The Moon colt for a shot at the Arc.

“We made the decision in the morning, he worked very well yesterday and he handled the workout very well,” said Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten of owners Liberty Racing.

“We continue to hope for sunshine and good ground conditions for him to be able to call up his best form.

“We thought long and hard about which of the races would be the best for him and with the owners and Sarah, we decided against the long trip to the United States or to Japan.

“Fantastic Moon should continue to run for Liberty Racing in 2024 so we’ll take advantage of the beautiful fall in Paris, he is a horse that has recovered very quickly after the last run.

“It is a big adventure for our 22 shareholders from Germany, we have one shareholder who won the Arc with Danedream and we have the president of German racing in the syndicate.

“It’s his first investment in a horse, he is the president of Deutscher Galopp and his first horse is an Arc starter – it is amazing.”

The field is currently headed by Jean-Claude Rouget’s Ace Impact, the unbeaten market leader, with Owen Burrows’ Hukum the second favourite.

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