PartialLogo
News

Dettori: Love deserves to be Arc favourite in clash of Europe's best

Love: has looked sensational in three Group 1 victories this season
Love: has looked sensational in three Group 1 victories this seasonCredit: Pool

Frankie Dettori believes Love deserves to be favourite against his beloved Enable as he looks ahead to an "amazing contest" in the Arc between two of the best in the world.

Enable has been sent off favourite for every start since her Oaks win in 2017 and Dettori is wary of the challenge posed by Aidan O'Brien's four-time Group 1 winner, who passed her Arc preparation with flying colours in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Dettori and Enable would give Love 7lb in weight allowances at Longchamp and connections are aware of a new challenger on the quest for an unprecedented third win in the Arc.

Love: three Group 1 wins this season
Love: three Group 1 wins this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Writing in his Sporting Index blog, Dettori said: "While in France I managed to watch most of York on my iPad and there’s no doubt we saw some amazing performances.

"Love has now won the Guineas by four [and a quarter] lengths, the Oaks by nine and the Yorkshire Oaks by five, she’s a three-year-old who gets all the allowances and you’d have to say she’s now entitled to her place at the top of the betting for the Arc.

"It'll be an amazing contest and it’s without a doubt the best race that we’ve got in Europe, and to win it you’ve got to be the very best."


124 highest RPR achieved this season by Enable (King George) and Love (Yorkshire Oaks)


Dettori is back in Britain after a successful spell in France, enjoying big wins aboard Mishriff, Palace Pier and Campanelle, who Dettori was particularly impressed with in her Prix Morny win.

He added: "She’s [Campanelle] a big, strong filly and anything is possible for her looking forward. The obvious route looks to be the Cheveley Park and then the Breeders’ Cup but I’ll leave that all up to Wesley.

"I wouldn’t have missed the ride on Enable for anything, no chance. She’s so special and it doesn’t matter if it’s the Arc or the warm-up race at Kempton, I’m not missing the ride."

One big clash which will not take place is Palace Pier versus Mohaather in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, after the latter-named was retired to stud on Tuesday.

Palace Pier extended his unbeaten record to five in a red-hot Prix Jacques le Marois earlier this month leaving Dettori excited about his future.

Palace Pier now heads the Tote Ten To Follow leaderboard after adding the Prix Jacques le Marois to his St James's Palace success
Palace Pier: an outstanding winner in France last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Palace Pier continues to deceive us," he added. "He’s so laid back at home that you’re never sure what he’s going to do on the track, but when he gets to the races he’s a different horse.

"He’s one of the best milers around and it’s a shame that the fans won’t get to see him take on Mohaather."


Study the form and watch unlimited full video race replays from all 86 British and Irish racecourses. Join Members’ Club Ultimate now and never miss a race again!


James StevensWest Country correspondent

Published on 26 August 2020inNews

Last updated 15:34, 26 August 2020

iconCopy