In what marks Frankie Dettori's farewell season in horse racing, the Italian icon seeks to cap off his illustrious career with a triumphant performance aboard Free Wind in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's most celebrated horse race.
The highly anticipated race, set to unfold at Longchamp on Sunday, will feature 14 contenders from across Europe and one from Japan, all vying for the substantial winner's purse of 3.1 million euros ($3.3 million).
Although the Arc de Triomphe field may lack a standout star, the race promises intrigue and open competition. Free Wind, however, doesn't quite match up to some of Dettori's previous Arc-winning horses, like Golden Horn and two-time champion Enable.
At the start of the week, she was considered a 66/1 outsider, but a surge of bets on Dettori's mount and bookmakers' caution have shortened her odds to 16/1.
Despite not boasting the same pedigree as some of Dettori's previous champions, Free Wind earned her place with a commendable second-place finish in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks in August.
Trained by John Gosden and his son Thady, Free Wind is the latest hope for Dettori to conjure his signature Arc magic.
As Dettori bids farewell to horse racing, fans at Longchamp eagerly anticipate the charismatic Italian's final flying dismount.
Continuous aims to achieve what no previous St. Leger winner has managed: adding the Arc to their accolades shortly after winning the oldest classic. Notably, turf legend Nijinsky, who completed the English classic Triple Crown in the St. Leger, fell short by a head in the Arc against Sassafras in 1970.
Remarkably, Continuous is trained at Ballydoyle Stables in County Tipperary, Ireland, where Nijinsky once trained under the watchful eye of the late Vincent O'Brien (no relation to Aidan O'Brien, Continuous's trainer). Nijinsky's St. Leger efforts were believed to have contributed to his defeat in the Arc.
Aidan O'Brien, aiming for his third Arc win, believes Continuous is in excellent form, especially given his favourable middle stall draw. O'Brien noted that Continuous is adaptable to various conditions, can maintain his position in a race, and has matured significantly.
Japanese contenders have been chasing victory in the Arc since 1969, and the race is often referred to as the 'Holy Grail' of horse racing in Japan. This year, Through the Seven Seas is Japan's sole representative, aiming to make history.
Although the five-year-old mare has only one Group Three victory to her name, she secured her spot in the Arc with a notable performance, finishing just a neck behind the world's best horse, Equinox, in the Group One Takarazuka Kinen in June. Despite the long break between races, Through Seven Seas's trainer, Tomohito Ozeki, believes the rest has been beneficial for her.
French jockey Christophe Lemaire, who is revered in Japan, seeks to achieve a career-defining victory in the Arc with a Japanese horse, a feat that would hold special significance given his history with Japan.
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