I'm not really sure... need to check BUT he's got the whole Prix Niel angle going for him!

There was a point in time where i thought he did, but he won the Prix Niel on ground described by most trainers as the firmest it has been at Longchamp in many years.

If any horse is seemingly dependant on softish turf, it is Authorized.

I like Authorized and Mandesha as the top two.

Not sure which was the best Arc field but I think the best horse to win it was Lammtarra, followed by Dancing Brave. Lammtarra was winning the Arc in only his fourth career starts. After winning his career debut in October of 1994, he was off of the track until coming back to win the Epsom Derby in his second career start. In course record time. That alone was an amazing feat. He then stayed out till the King George and won that race. To win those three races like that is incredible. And it's not like he was beating nothing. At Ascot, he beat Pentire. The same Pentire that had taken the Irish Champion and had beaten Singspiel twice. At Longchamp, he took down Freedom Cry (who would go on to lose the BC Turf by a nose) and Swain, the future 2x King George winner among several other outstanding races.

Authorized has once again managed to get a monsoon to fall where he needs it.

Lots of rain has fallen in the Paris area over the last thirty six hours. Totally against what forecasters have been predicting over the last five days!

I'm not sure how this horse manages to do it, but every big start he has, he manages to get plenty of rain (which apparently he needs to perform at his best).

I think i'm siding with Brock now, just hoping that Zambezi Sun has plenty more to offer, especiallly now as the ground has been softened up.

I'm hoping for anyone but Authorized, though.

Personally, I think it was silly for any forecaster NOT to predict rains in Paris at this time of year. If I held that job, I'd predict rain everyday.

Most of the time i'd agree, but they have had next to no rain there until two days ago. Same in this country. We hadn't had rain in weeks until the other day.

As far as i'm aware, they are shocked with the amount of rain that has fallen in such a short space of time.

Authorized raced on good to soft ground in the Derby (the quickest he has encountered) and he came back slightly jarred up on that. He wouldn't be able to race on quick ground, and everytime he has run, the rain has arrived just in time. Lucky or what.

What time does the race go off (local time is fine; I can do the math)? NYC's OTB channel usually airs it...

I'm pretty sure it's 4.40pm French time. 3.40pm GMT, so that would make it 10.40am eastern.

Thank you! I'll have time to stumble out to Starbucks ahead of time and get my caffeine dose beforehand. :)

What is it with Starbucks that i don't get. Every American i know seems to be addicted it to it!

I have a friend who has recently moved to Kentucky, and she is already addicted to it!

i swear more than caffeine goes into their drinks! :D

While Im not a massive fan of Starbucks, Ive gotten into a habit of buying a starbucks mug whenever I am on my travels..
Still Zambezi for the Arc.. and I absolutely love watching old videos of the Arc.. some absolute top notch quality on show even over the last 10 years. Pentire Celebre was just sensational!

... and Gateway, who will be supplemented tomorrow by the Manduro connections.

(Chekov was ruled out).

O'Brien supplements Song Of Hiawatha............ shocked!


French racing correspondents are predicting the ground to be good to soft for Arc day. I hope they are right.

The rabbit for all the AOB boys?

Well, that seems the more likely reason. Just seems so strange, and rather stupid for them to supplement a rabbit for the cost of 60,000 euros!

These big organisations have more money than sense, i think.

But there again, if he goes and wins at 200/1 we will then know why they did it :D