Arc: Pride in good shape but no decision yet on Mandesha
by Desmond Stoneham
(Racing post)
PRIDE was on Monday reported to be in good form after her third in Sunday’s Prix Foy, but no decision has yet been reached about a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bid for her stablemate Mandesha (pic).
The Arc is still very much on the agenda for Pride after her effort behind Shirocco and Hurricane Run at the weekend, but Mandesha – who was quoted as low as 8-1 for the big race after her impressive win in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille on Sunday’s card – would need to be supplemented at a cost of €60,000 by her owner Princess Zahra Aga Khan.
Alain Royer-Dupre, who trains the pair, said on Monday: “Pride has come out of the race in very good form, but the ground was a bit fast for her on Sunday as she prefers to get her feet in.” “Mandesha did not have a hard race at all in the Vermeille and we now have the option of either the Prix de l’Opera or the Arc. We won’t decide yet whether she will be supplemented into the Arc and I wouldn’t want to run her if the ground came up testing. It is difficult for younger horses to show their best on such a surface, but older ones like it.”
Pat Downes, racing manager for the Aga Khan, confirmed that if Mandesha does run in the Arc, retained jockey Christophe Soumillon would be required to ride her, meaning the mount on leading contender Shirocco would be up for grabs.
Downes said: “We were delighted
“There is no decision yet on whether she will be supplemented for the Arc. We'll take a few days to see how she is and think about it. If she were to run in the Arc, Christophe would be riding her.”
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