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Behkabad fails to impress in ‘Arc’ trial

Was I watching a completely different Prix Niel at Longchamp to most of the betting firms and other racing journalists? Judging by the excitement at Behkabad’s last gasp win over fellow countryman Planteur, you would have thought we had seen something special but, to my eyes, the Aga Khan’s colt looked laboured and anything but a potential Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, writes Elliot Slater.

Bookies reacted to the victory by making Behkabad the new favourite for the Paris showpiece, with one horse racing betting firm seemingly going overboard in slashing the odds of the son of Cape Cross to a ridiculous 5/2. Bearing in mind that the three-year-old has yet to register a success at the highest level, the general offer of 4/1 about Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group 1 winner Fame And Glory looks very generous in comparison.

Even allowing for the fact that trainer Jean-Claude Rouget will doubtless have left some improvement in his regally bred charge, I felt that this renewal of a key Arc trial smacked of being somewhat lacklustre. Behkabad had to dig deep and was hard driven by Christophe Lemaire, before running on bravely to get past Planteur (no slouch in his own right) in the last few strides.

The last two Aga Khan-owned colts to win the Prix Niel, Sinndarr in 2000 and Dalakhani in 2003, both went on to famously follow up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so it is understandable that connections appeared so delighted in post-race interviews. On the bare form, though, Behkabad beat Planteur (now an 8/1 chance for the Arc) by less than had been the case in the Grand Prix de Paris in July, and there is a serious doubt in my mind that the form is as good as many in France think.

All will be revealed at Longchamp on October 3rd, but given an even bet I would take Fame And Glory to beat Behkabad any day.

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