'Exceptional' Sottsass ready to prove his quality in Sunday's Arc

Jean-Claude Rouget compared Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hopeful Sottsass favourably with Almanzor after the Prix du Jockey Club hero breezed through his final workout on Tuesday.

Rouget famously resisted the temptation of his own country's biggest prize after Almanzor blew away a top-class field in the 2016 Irish Champion Stakes.

But the trainer – whose best finish in the Arc was Behkabad's fourth place behind Workforce in 2010 – believes Sottsass deserves to be considered in the same bracket.

"His movement is perfect," Rouget said. "There are some very good horses who are only average movers but overcome that with their latent potential and their will.

"But he moves incredibly, especially considering his physique, because he is a big horse. I often prefer slightly smaller, more manoeuvrable models but he moves beautifully despite his size. His action is wonderful and a little like Almanzor's. Horses that good don't come along often.

"He isn't complicated and is unlike some good horses you'd take to a race like this who need everything to go like a dream for them. It's an enormous advantage."

Cristian Demuro did not ask any serious questions of Sottsass, who breezed a mile alone at a discreet distance behind the yard's top miler Olmedo.

Rouget was more than happy with what he observed on a busy work morning when all the yard's runners for the weekend stretched their legs and Japanese jockey Yutaka Take made a guest appearance.

"I didn't need Cristian to get any strong sensations," said a relaxed Rouget. "He moved very easily in behind Olmedo, who is a very good horse and was asked to do something quite different to him. Sottsass is an exceptional horse and it's up to him to prove it on Sunday."

Jean-Claude Rouget and Yutaka Take at Deauville on Tuesday, after the legendary Japanese jockey rode Commes and Soft Light in morning workCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

The son of Siyouni is no bigger than 7-1 to triumph at Longchamp since proving his aptitude over a mile and a half with a cosy victory in the Group 2 Prix Niel last month.

Both that win and his Prix du Jockey Club defeat of Persian King came on quick ground but he also has form on soft, including a Listed win at Chantilly in May.

With the going at Longchamp remaining on the easy side of good, Rouget believes Sottsass's athleticism and fluid action will stand him in good stead, whatever the ground.

Japanese star Take climbed aboard Commes to work alongside the stable's other two Prix de l'Opera candidates, Etoile and Cartiem.

The 50-year-old will also ride the Rouget-trained Helter Skelter in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as well as his second work partner of the day, Soft Light, who will be supplemented for the Arc at a cost of €120,000 on Wednesday morning.

Sottsass powers to victory in the Prix du Jockey ClubCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Rouget added: "The other idea would have been the Prix de Chaudenay but there is only one Arc and the owner would like to run.

"He is a good horse and is improving, even though he hasn't actually won this year. He's in the second tier of runners but he won't be embarrassed. As far as Yutaka is concerned, the owners wanted to get one of the world's top jockeys."

Take is also due to ride the Andre Fabre-trained Savarin in the Prix Marcel Boussac, while Musis Amica's redirection to the Prix de Royallieu leaves Mickael Barzalona to partner the Czech-trained Nagano Gold in the Arc.

Build up to the Arc with our exclusive interview with Jean-Claude Rouget on racingpost.com from 6pm on Thursday