Rouget: Jockey Club hero Sottsass is my best chance yet of Arc glory

For a period in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the beau ideal of an Arc winner was a French-trained three-year-old colt who had been given the classic prep of a summer off and a comeback run in the Prix Niel over course and distance, three weeks before D Day.

That model of an Arc hero has faded somewhat from fashion and, since Rail Link’s triumph in 2006, the Niel winner has failed to double up, with only Cavalryman and New Bay even hitting the frame on the first Sunday in October.

Sottsass arrives at Longchamp with excellent credentials to reverse that trend, having burst on to the scene with a race-record success in the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, brushing aside Persian King in the process.

His comeback win in the Niel had an element of drama about it but Cristian Demuro kept a cool head and, having been locked on the rail until deep into the final furlong, took the gap when it appeared to burst through for an easy defeat of inferior rivals.

Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has been trying to win the Arc without coming close since 1994, but believes Sottsass is by far his best chance of landing the great prize.

"It is perhaps the first time I've had a horse that has been prepared solely with this race in mind and who, up until now, has done everything we've asked of him," said Rouget.

"He didn't have a hard race in the Niel because he was hidden away the entire time. If he had seen daylight at the top of the straight he would have done 400 metre piece of work. Even if it wasn’t hard, he would have still run 400m. As it was he did 150m."

Cristian Demuro debriefs trainer Jean-Claude Rouget (left) after Sottsass overcomes a troubled passage to win the Prix NielCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

The one criticism that could be levelled at Sottsass is that he can be a little hot-headed pre-race, but Rouget has observed an improvement in that respect that comes with the horse becoming more mature.

"He has changed a lot during the year and become much more assured," said Rouget. "He brings the pressure on himself on race days. We know how to handle that and in some ways it's quite normal.

"It would be more unusual for a horse to be really placid. He can get a little stressed but he is usually fine when he sets off for the start.

"Before that there can be some delicate moments. There will be a lot of people on Sunday but with each course he is becoming more settled and mature."

A half-brother to the brilliant US-based mare Sistercharlie, Sottsass brings an X-factor to this year’s Arc and, although Demuro will be in no hurry early from stall one, if he is in striking distance of the leaders turning in, he has a turn of foot to trouble the best.

What's in a name? Sottsass

Ettore Sottsass, Italian designer and the inspiration behind the naming of French Derby winner Sottsass

Sottsass was bought at Arqana for €340,000 by Michel Zerolo on behalf of owner Peter Brant who, aside from thoroughbreds, also indulges his passion for modern art and design.

Having already bought half-sibling Sistercharlie in training, Brant christened the son of Siyouni in memory of Italian master of all visual arts Ettore Sottsass.

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