The stand-out horse of the season in Britain and Ireland this term has been, undoubtedly, Love. Aidan O'Brien's filly kicked off her campaign with an impressive four length victory in the 1000 Guineas. A second Classic win followed in Epsom Oaks, where Love destroyed her rivals with a peerless performance.
Aidan O'Brien then watched his filly cruise to victory in the Yorkshire Oaks, and it seemed to be all systems go regarding the Arc. Right up until this weekend, Love had sat atop the betting for Europe's most prestigious flat race. But that was about to change.
As soon as ground staff at Longchamp announced the ground had turned very soft, Love was on the drift. O'Brien's decision to supplement Epsom Derby winner, Serpentine into the Arc caused Love to slip even further behind new favourite, Enable.
This morning, Love had drifted right out to 4/1 in the Arc betting. So it came as no surprise when O'Brien announced his star filly had been withdrawn from the race.
“We had to make the decision today because there was no other stage after this,” O’Brien said to the press. “If Ryan (Moore) was declared to ride her he couldn’t then ride anything else, so we had to make the decision today.
“It’s 4.1 in the penetrometer at the moment and there is a lot of rain forecast, it could get to 4.5 so we had to make a choice. Sadly, I don’t think there’s any prospect of the ground improving much.”
"Her whole year had been geared to it so it was a difficult decision but we felt we didn't have much choice in the end as we felt it might finish her for the rest of her season."
Aidan O'Brien has said Love will be pointed at a run in the Breeders' Cup Turf. (Getty)
Bookmakers were quick to alter their betting markets for the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with Ladbrokes cutting Enable into 6/5 favouritism.
“Love had been drifting like a bateau mouche on the River Seine so her withdrawal had begun to look inevitable." Said Ladbrokes' spokesman, John Lees.
"While it’s a real shame that we won’t now get to see her face off against Enable, it means Enable has a much better chance of securing an historic third Arc win.”
Attentioned then turned to where we could see Love next, and O'Brien delighted listeners when he named the Breeders' Cup Turf as her new target.
"I'd imagine Love will now go for the Breeders' Cup Turf, which I think is a $6m race this year." O'Brien continued.
"Japan and Hong Kong could be considered after that. We'll discuss it with the lads but I'd imagine the Breeders' Cup will be the priority now – it's one of the biggest grass races in the world."
Ladbrokes Betting Markets
Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (4/10/20)
6/5 Enable, 9/2 Stradivarius, 8/1 Sottsass, 10/1 In Swoop, 11/1 Serpentine, 12/1 Japan, 14/1 Raabihah, 16/1 Mogul, 25/1 Persian King, 33/1 Way To Paris, 40/1 Sovereign, 50/1 Gold Trip, 66/1 Deirdre, 100/1 Chachnak, 200/1 Royal Julius
Breeders’ Cup Turf (7/11/20)
6/4 Love, 4/1 Ghaiyyath, 8/1 Enable, Magical, 9/1 Mogul, 14/1 Sottsass, United, 16/1 Logician, Mishriff, Serpentine, 20/1 Instilled Regard, Japan
