Always the ‘bridesmaid’ Youmzain will return for another go in Arc

On the down side for
Youmzain is the fact that his three Arc attempts have coincided with three giants of the turf, Dylan Thomas, the great filly Zarkava last year, and the incomparable Sea The Stars. However, trainer Mick Channon yesterday was trying not to be too upset.

“After Dylan Thomas in 2007, we met two superstars that made him look ordinary. This one [Sea The Stars] especially, and Zarkava last year.

“What we saw from Sea The Stars was something special and we’ve got to congratulate him. He’s a champion.

“Obviouslym I’m delighted
with Youmzain and also delighted for everyone at the stable, and of course Jaber [Abdullah, owner].

“The horse has had a few little setbacks this year but he looks as good as ever. This is really the pinnacle for an older horse. There’s no such thing as a soft Arc. He will be here next year, he has to be, but first we will look at the Canadian International and then the Japan Cup.”

Kieren Fallon, who was in the saddle on Sunday, said: “It would have been great to win but he has done nothing wrong and it’s thrilling to be runner-up in probably the best Arc of all time.”

As regards Sea The Stars, John Oxx will “let the dust settle” before deciding whether his colt will attempt to add to his legacy at the Breeders’ Cup.

Oxx hinted it may be too much to ask the three-year-old who has been on the go since his 2000 Guineas triumph at Newmarket in May. “We haven’t had any discussion as we never discuss the next race until we get past the first one,” he said. “We’ll let the dust settle and have a think but we are not ruling it out.

“It was primarily in the owner’s mind if he had to miss the Arc for some reason as we would have had a nice interval between the Irish Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup, so whether we would go there making it his seventh race in seven months, it is a bit late in the year.

“We are not going to rush the decision and we haven’t had time to discuss it yet.”

Elsewhere, Pipedreamer may have earned another crack at the Champion Stakes after his success at Longchamp on Saturday. The five-year-old, seventh to New Approach in the Newmarket Group 1 in October, landed the Prix Dollar in what was his first racecourse appearance in more than four months.

The animal’s owners, Cheveley Park Stud, and trainer John Gosden also have Virtual entered in the event on October 17.

“It was fantastic, really special. John Gosden did a fantastic job in freshening him up and producing him on the day. The plan came together,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson.

WHILE much of the racing world was still effervescing yesterday about the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe success of Sea The Stars, Youmzain was on the way back to his West Ilsley stable, having finished second to the great one at Longchamp.

The plaudits apportioned to Sea The Stars are completely justified, but the performance of Youmzain in defeat also is rather remarkable.

Three times in as many attempts, the six-year-old has finished second in Europe’s greatest race, and the word now is that he will continue his amazing career with two more trips overseas on the agenda.

On the down side for Youmzain is the fact that his three Arc attempts have coincided with three giants of the turf, Dylan Thomas, the great filly Zarkava last year, and the incomparable Sea The Stars. However, trainer Mick Channon yesterday was trying not to be too upset.

“After Dylan Thomas in 2007, we met two superstars that made him look ordinary. This one [Sea The Stars] especially, and Zarkava last year.

“What we saw from Sea The Stars was something special and we’ve got to congratulate him. He’s a champion.

“Obviouslym I’m delighted with Youmzain and also delighted for everyone at the stable, and of course Jaber [Abdullah, owner].

“The horse has had a few little setbacks this year but he looks as good as ever. This is really the pinnacle for an older horse. There’s no such thing as a soft Arc. He will be here next year, he has to be, but first we will look at the Canadian International and then the Japan Cup.”

Kieren Fallon, who was in the saddle on Sunday, said: “It would have been great to win but he has done nothing wrong and it’s thrilling to be runner-up in probably the best Arc of all time.”

As regards Sea The Stars, John Oxx will “let the dust settle” before deciding whether his colt will attempt to add to his legacy at the Breeders’ Cup.

Oxx hinted it may be too much to ask the three-year-old who has been on the go since his 2000 Guineas triumph at Newmarket in May. “We haven’t had any discussion as we never discuss the next race until we get past the first one,” he said. “We’ll let the dust settle and have a think but we are not ruling it out.

“It was primarily in the owner’s mind if he had to miss the Arc for some reason as we would have had a nice interval between the Irish Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup, so whether we would go there making it his seventh race in seven months, it is a bit late in the year.

“We are not going to rush the decision and we haven’t had time to discuss it yet.”

Elsewhere, Pipedreamer may have earned another crack at the Champion Stakes after his success at Longchamp on Saturday. The five-year-old, seventh to New Approach in the Newmarket Group 1 in October, landed the Prix Dollar in what was his first racecourse appearance in more than four months.

The animal’s owners, Cheveley Park Stud, and trainer John Gosden also have Virtual entered in the event on October 17.

“It was fantastic, really special. John Gosden did a fantastic job in freshening him up and producing him on the day. The plan came together,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson.