Sottsass marks himself an Arc contender with Prix Niel win

American owner Peter Brant campaigns some of the best turf horses in the U.S. and now has come up with a real contender for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next month in Paris.

Sottsass, making his first start since winning the French Derby in June and racing over a distance as far as 1 1/2 miles for the first time, escaped from a pocket in the final furlong and won the Group 2 Prix Niel by 1 1/4 lengths Sunday at Longchamp.

The Niel, restricted to 3-year-olds, was the last of three Arc preps on the Sunday card and Sottsass’s success followed wins by Waldgeist in the Group 2 Prix Foy and Star Catcher in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille.

Sottsass, who campaigns under Brant’s nom de course White Birch Farm and is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, ran the fastest time among the three Arc-related races, going 1 1/2 miles over good ground in 2:27.50. Sottsass had a pacemaker in the race, Veronesi, who went out to a big lead passing the 1400 meters in 1:27.12, the 1900 in 1:51.26, 2000 in 2:03.60, and 2200 in 2:15.39. Sottsass raced some six lengths behind the leader with three furlongs to run and got his final three furlongs in about 35.20 seconds despite being trapped on the fence for much of that time. Jockey Cristian Demuro waited and waited for room, finally slicing between Veronesi and runner-up Mutamakina in the final furlong to win going away.

Brant told Daily Racing Form’s David Grening after the race that Sottsass was only about 80 percent fit for this race and that the Arc has been the goal all summer. Rouget said that he was happy Sottsass hadn’t run hard and expected improvement in the Arc. Golden Horn in 2015 was the last 3-year-old colt to win the Arc. Sottsass, who has four wins from six starts, is by Siyouni out of Starlet’s Sister, by Galileo.

Waldgeist won the Prix Foy for the second year in a row and won it easily as his perceived main challenger, the Japanese horse Kiseki, offered little resistance after setting the pace. Kiseki led through 1400 meters in 1:28.86, 1900 in 1:52.43, and 2000 in 2:04.42 before being overrun. The 2200 went in 2:15.88 en route to a final time of 2:27.60 for the 1 1/2 miles. The final 600 was 35.27, the final 400 23.28 as Waldgeist moved smoothly to the front between the 400- and 200-meter marks. Way To Paris got second with Kiseki a disappointing third.

Waldgeist, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot for trainer Andre Fabre, never appeared to fully exert himself in an encouraging performance. The 5-year-old son of Galileo and Waldlerche, by Monsun, finished fourth in the 2018 Arc and appears to be coming into this year’s contest in similar form.

Star Catcher made all the running in the Prix Vermeille to win her second straight Group 1 for owner Anthony Oppenheimer, trainer John Gosden, and jockey Frankie Dettori. Breaking a touch slow from an inside draw, Star Catcher got to the front and controlled the tempo, going 1:28.20 for 1400 meters, 1:51.85 for 1900, 2:03.89 for 2000, and 2:15.43 for 2200 on the way to a final time of 2:27.66. The closing stages of the Vermeille were the slowest of the three races and helped Musis Amica bridge the gap on the winner, closing to within three-quarters of a length at the finish after racing from last.

Longshot Ligne D’Or finished third while English Oaks winner Anapurna, also trained by Gosden, was seventh. Anapurna was trapped on the rail behind a wall of horses much of the trip but came home one-paced when finally clear.

Star Catcher had won the Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and the Group 1 Irish Oaks before Sunday’s race. By Sea the Stars out of Lynnwood Chase, by Horse Chestnut, Star Catcher has four wins from six starts and several options for the autumn. Since Gosden has heavy Arc favorite Enable it wouldn’t be surprising to see Star Catcher show up elsewhere, and races like the British Champions Fillies and Mares or a Breeders’ Cup race – either the Turf or the Filly and Mare Turf – could be in play.