Horse Racing News: Reynier Eyeing Juddmonte International as Stepping Stone to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Zarakem
French trainer Jerome Reynier is considering the Juddmonte International at York as a potential stepping stone to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for his talented horse Zarakem. This comes after the four-year-old’s excellent runner-up finish in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Despite disappointing as the favorite in the Prix Ganay, Zarakem was a 33-1 outsider for the Prince of Wales’s, but put in a superb performance to finish second to the now six-time Group One winner Auguste Rodin. Reynier was delighted with the display, stating, “It was just unreal, Maxime (Guyon) rode the perfect race from the inside. I think Auguste Rodin was very hard to beat that day, but we were a clear second and he has run the best race of his life.“
The trainer went on to highlight Zarakem’s versatility, noting that the horse has now shown he can win a Group Two on heavy ground and finish second to a top-class horse on fast ground, making him a “pure athlete.“
Reynier has identified the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October as Zarakem’s ultimate target, but the Juddmonte International at York in late August is now being considered as a potential stepping stone. “Maybe we will go to York for the Juddmonte International, that would be an interesting race and it is right between the Prince of Wales’s and the Arc, so it could be a good race to run in,” said the trainer.
Reynier believes Zarakem is improving both mentally and physically, and he is hopeful the horse can mount a serious challenge for the prestigious Arc. “He won a Group Two in Longchamp, so he handles the track and he doesn’t mind the ground and he promises to be a horse who could have a decent chance in the Arc.“
The trainer plans to give Zarakem just one more run before the Arc, as he believes the horse prefers to have his races spaced out. “I think he will only have one more run (before the Arc), just with all the travel and everything and he’s a horse who likes his races spaced out quite a bit, so it would be better to arrive in the Arc without too many runs under his belt.“
Should Zarakem perform well in the Arc, Reynier has also hinted at potential international targets, such as the Japan Cup or the Hong Kong Vase, as options for the rest of the year.
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