Olivier Peslier relishing chance to partner 'super horse' Stradivarius

Olivier Peslier is delighted to be on "super horse" Stradivarius in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp next Sunday.

With usual partner Frankie Dettori riding stablemate Enable as she seeks a historic third Arc success, trainer John Gosden and owner Bjorn Nielsen have turned to a jockey who has won Europe's most prestigious race four times.

"It's wonderful," Peslier said. "He's a super horse, strong and a famous stayer. I'm very happy to be on him.

"I think he will be very good in the Arc because there's a lot of rain in Paris and that will be a big help for him. He's a strong horse who just gallops. He's a real champion.

"I watched him last time at Longchamp. John Gosden is a champion trainer and I know the horse will be 100 per cent in the Arc."

The top-class stayer, who finished a close second when dropped back to the Arc trip on his prep run in the Prix Foy, can be backed at 14-1 for Sunday's race.

Explaining the choice of jockey, Gosden said: "After discussions with Mr Nielsen we have decided to book Olivier Peslier for the ride.

"Obviously his course knowledge is second to none and we think he's the right fit for the horse."

Peslier, 47, won the Arc three times in a row from 1996 to 1998 on Helissio, Peintre Celebre and Sagamix before a memorable victory in 2012 on Solemia, whose late thrust broke Japanese hearts when the brilliant but quirky Orfevre faltered late on.

Olivier Peslier reels in Orfevre on Solemia (right) in the 2012 ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker

A Nielsen homebred, Stradivarius has been Britain's best stayer for the last three years, landing a hat-trick of Gold Cups at Royal Ascot, which formed part of a £1 million bonus he landed in 2018 and 2019.

His other top-level successes include four Goodwood Cups, although he has twice been beaten when dropping back to the Arc distance of a mile and a half this season, the latest being his course second to Anthony Van Dyck in the Prix Foy under Dettori.

Nielsen has longed for a crack at the Arc and was far from deflated following that effort, saying at the time: "I wouldn't be put off for the Arc by the way he ran today and the pace of an Arc would suit better."

Andrea Atzeni had been suggested as a possible option for Stradivarius, the pair having teamed up to win the Goodwood Cup in 2017 and 2018.

Current quarantine rules mean Atzeni will remain in Britain to be available to ride for his retainer, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, at Newmarket's Dubai Future Champions meeting on October 9-10.

Jockeys returning to Britain after riding in France have to quarantine for eight days but Oisin Murphy said efforts were being made to get that restriction relaxed.

He told Sky Sports Racing: "Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori have been lobbying the BHA and particularly Dr Jerry Hill to get dispensation like professional footballers, that if they passed a certain number of Covid-19 tests leading up to next weekend and after the weekend, and they flew privately and came into contact with literally nobody, would it be possible not to participate in the quarantine?

"We don't have a firm answer yet but we're certainly hopeful and it would be fantastic if we were granted that privilege because I feel like we wouldn't be putting anybody at risk."

Four previous Group 1 call-ups for Olivier Peslier

No wonder John Gosden and Bjorn Nielsen turned to Olivier Peslier. He has plenty of form for answering the call from a British trainer needing a Group 1 jockey and then delivering success.

High-Rise 1998
With Frankie Dettori required for Godolphin filly Cape Verdi in the Derby, Luca Cumani turned to Peslier for Lingfield Derby Trial winner High-Rise, who quickened smartly to triumph by a hard-fought head at Epsom, while Cape Verdi finished ninth.

Cockney Rebel 2007
Peslier got the call-up from Geoff Huffer and had an introductory gallop on the colt in Newmarket before returning to the Rowley Mile a week later to land the 2,000 Guineas, bringing the 25-1 shot from last to first on the stands' side. He followed up in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh three weeks later.

Harbinger 2010
Ryan Moore rode the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Harbinger in each of his first eight starts but deserted him for Derby-winning stablemate Workforce in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, where he could only watch in wonder as the odds-on favourite was completely eclipsed behind the mightily impressive 11-length winner.

Sans Frontieres 2010
Peslier took the mount on the Jeremy Noseda-trained stayer for the first time in the Irish St Leger and gave him a confident ride, defying worries about soft ground at the Curragh to give owner Sir Robert Ogden his first Group 1 success.

Read more on the Arc

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Telecaster team heartened by forecast rain and on the hunt for Arc jockey

Aidan O'Brien outlines five-strong Arc team in bid to derail Enable (£)

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