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By Dylan Jenear ValueChecker

Pour Moi as Short as 4-1 for Arc Glory
04/06/11

Pour Moi is a top-priced 7-1, but as short 4-1 in places, following his last-to-first victory in the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 4.

Pour Moi
© JC Briens

Pour Moi

Owned by the Ballydoyle triumvirate – Derrick Smith, John Magnier and Michael Tabor – the Montjeu colt became the first French-trained horse since 1976 to win Flat racing’s Blue Riband event, and a first winner in the Classic for Andre Fabre.

Ridden by up-and-coming jockey Mickael Barzalona, Pour Moi was at the back of the 13-strong field in the early stages, but when his 19-year-old pilot asked him to go about his business in the home straight, the colt produced outstanding acceleration to come from an compromising position to mow his rivals down, beating the Aidan O’Brien-trained Treasure Beach by a head, with favourite Carlton House back in third.

While there was controversy in the run-up to the race with Kieren Fallon barred from riding in the race following an appeal by the owner of eventual fifth, Native Khan, whom Fallon had allegedly signed a written agreement to ride, but gave up the ride to partner Recital, there was more in the dying strides of the Derby.

Indeed, the euphoria of being aboard a horse storming home in this prestigious contest appeared to get to young Barzalona, who stood up in the saddle and begun celebrating fully two strides before the winning line. That error in judgement cost him a one-day ban and a ticking off from the stewards. Had he not won the race, one suspects he would have also felt the wrath of monsieur Fabre.

The Irish Derby next month looks the likely next stop for Pour Moi, and the Arc at Longchamp on the first Sunday of October will undoubtedly be the longer term target. It emerged in the aftermath of the race that The Queen’s horse, Carlton House, lost a shoe in the home straight. Whether that cost the colt the race is debatable, but it will certainly be interesting if they renew rivalry in Ireland.

Pour Moi is vying for Arc favouritism with So You Think and last year’s hero Workforce. However, for punters keep to have an ante-post investment in that spectacle, Sarafina, third in the 2010 Arc, is the recommendation at a tempting 12-1.

The four-year-old filly, winner of last season’s French Oaks at Chantilly, has returned this season in fine fettle, chasing home Planteur in the Prix Ganay before easily scoring at Saint-Cloud in May when displaying a potent turn of foot. Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre will fine tune her campaign around another crack at Europe’s richest race, and she may well strike for the fairer sex, just as her trainer’s Zarkava did so spectacularly in 2008.

Recommendation: Sarafina

 

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