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Snowfall has the engine to tackle any ground in Arc | Aidan O'Brien

Trainer Aidan O'Brien says he always intended to supplement Snowfall for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc d...
Will O'Callaghan
Will O'Callaghan

18.09 1 Oct 2021


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Snowfall has the engine to tac...

Snowfall has the engine to tackle any ground in Arc | Aidan O'Brien

Will O'Callaghan
Will O'Callaghan

18.09 1 Oct 2021


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Trainer Aidan O'Brien says he always intended to supplement Snowfall for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and he's happy with her form going to Paris.

It cost the Ballydoyle supremo 120,000 Euro to add the dual Oaks winner and Epsom Derby champion Adayar to the field for the 100th running of the Arc at Longchamp as he seeks a third success in the race.

O'Brien was a guest on Off The Ball's Friday night racing and he stressed that Snowfall's 'engine' will enable her to navigate a range of ground conditions in the middle-distance showpiece.

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"Nice ground is what she'd love but she obviously handed the soft ground in the Oaks, she has a big engine," he told Ger Gilroy and Johnny Ward.

"With soft ground, it takes more than fitness, you have to have a big engine. You can have them fit but unless they've got that engine, they won't keep powering through soft ground.

"We learned that day that she can do it on soft ground and that she can handle a mile and a quarter."

17 July 2021; Snowfall, with Ryan Moore up, on their way to winning the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh Racecourse in Kildare. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Class, staying power and speed needed

Found led home a remarkable 1-2-3 for O'Brien in the 2016 renewal of the Arc with stablemates Highland Reel and Order of St George placing second and third.

"Obviously it was a massive day, to win the race alone is incredibly tough but to have the 1-2-3 was unbelievable really," the Wexford-native said of that momentous day.

"Everyone wants to be in Paris for Arc weekend, it's a tremendous race at a beautiful facility and is very competitive. It captures everyone's attention in the autumn.

"There's a lot of mystique about Paris and the venue and it's always lovely to be able to spend the weekend there."

O'Brien also saddled Dylan Thomas for victory in 2007 and he outlined the qualities required for an Arc winner.

"It's very competitive, you need to have class, be able to stay and you need to have tactical speed. Everything has to go well for you in the race.

"You need a good draw and you really need a lot of ducks to come into a row for you on the day. It's a very special race really."


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