Freddy Head: Stable Tour ahead of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend
Freddy Head runs our Ben Linfoot through his seven horses running at ParisLongchamp this Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend including Polydream, hot favourite for the Foret.
Freddy Head has a rich history with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting, even though he's just about the only member of his own family yet to win the big race itself.
The Chantilly trainer, six-time champion jockey in France, has won nearly everything else, though, particularly every significant mile prize going thanks to the exceptional Goldikova.
She only won once on Arc weekend - in the 2010 Prix de la Foret - but she was the Queen of the Breeders' Cup, three times a winner of the Mile, and in the same famous blue and white Wertheimer silks we may see Polydream at Churchill Downs in a month's time. See below.
First she has the Foret field to see off - and she's the 6/4 favourite to do so. It would be a third Foret for Head, as he won the race with Moonlight Cloud five years ago, too, as well as with the mighty Goldikova.
Head has won the Prix de l'Opera before, as well, with We Are - and he runs her full sister in the race this year, while he also bids to land the Prix de l'Abbaye again, 10 years after Marchand d'Or, with the exciting Tantheem supplemented despite running in the same ownership as hot favourite Battaash.
With seven runners taking their chance for Head over Arc weekend, he arguably runs his strongest ever team at the meeting. Here, he guides sportinglife.com readers through their chances ahead of a stellar two days in Paris...
ANODOR – Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group One, 1.45 Sunday)
- Sky Bet odds: 6/4
Freddy Head: "He’s very well. I’m very happy with him, I think he’s a good horse. We beat Persian King first time out and he’s won two since while mine’s won a Group Three. I don’t know how strong the British and Irish challenge is, we'll have to see. He's working very well at home."
WITH YOU – Prix de l'Opera Longines (Group One, 3.50 Sunday)
- Sky Bet odds: 4/1
FH: "She’s in good form. Her recent form has been over a mile but I think she will get the trip. I trained her sister, We Are, to win this race so I know the family well and her form is good – Laurens is a good horse, Alpha Centauri is a good horse – so I’m hoping for a big run."
TANTHEEM – Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group One, 4.35 Sunday)
- Sky Bet odds: 8/1 (FOUR places on each-way bets)
FH: "We decided to supplement Tantheem for the Prix de l’Abbaye on Thursday morning. I spoke with Angus Gold and Sheikh Hamdan, as they’ve got Battaash as well, but she’s a very good filly, very fast, and was quite impressive last time. She’s in good form."
POLYDREAM – Qatar Prix de la Foret (Group One, 5.15 Sunday)
- Sky Bet odds: 6/4
FH: "She won the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville and that’s her perfect distance. She has won a Group Three – at Longchamp, too – over the Foret distance, in June, and the Maurice de Gheest form is working out really well. The Breeders’ Cup is an option, I’ll have to discuss it with the Wertheimer Brothers. If she stays in training, maybe we won’t go, but if she’s out of training next year maybe we’ll try. It’s still to be decided."
ROCK MY LOVE – Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group Two, 4.05 Saturday)
- Sky Bet odds: N/A
FH: "She’s a very good filly, but she had a very bad spring. She had a virus like a few of my horses at that stage of the season, but she’s back to herself now. I thought she ran very well last time out at Deauville, where she was second in a Group Two and I expect a good run from her this time. She’s improved since, as she was not right prior to Deauville. I’m trying a mile with her and I think that’ll be her distance."
CALL THE WIND – Qatar Prix du Cadran (Group One, 4.40 Saturday)
- Sky Bet odds: 9/1
FH: "He’s a funny thing. A very funny horse. He’s got a lot of quality, but you have to push all the way with him, so I expect him to stay the trip. Those sort of horses tend to stay and if he does stay I think he has a good chance. These Frankels stay well, but this is two and a half miles – it’s a long way!"
FUSE – Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Group Two 5.10 Saturday)
- Sky Bet odds: 7/1
FH: "She was second in a Group Two at Saint-Cloud in the spring and then last time she came back lame after Deauville. She hurt herself quite badly so with that behind her I think we have a chance. She’s much better now."
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