Sosie and Aventure lead the Wertheimer family's quest for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe glory, aiming to reclaim France's top racing honor with their rich legacy.
To have a contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is every Frenchman's dream – so to have two is a fantasy come true. Now Sosie and Aventure have been given the responsibility to fulfill this ambition and once again add the Wertheimer name to France's most prestigious trophy. The family's blue and white silks are a symbol not only of French racing, but thanks to their legendary stars over the decades – like the great Goldikova – they have also been a familiar sight on the international stage.
Currently, the colors are being represented by brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, who witnessed their horse Solemia, trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias, break the hearts of Japanese fans in 2012. Now, twelve years later, they have a significant opportunity to make history again with their two-pronged approach, with Sosie leading the charge. Trained by the renowned Arc specialist Andre Fabre, the runner-up of the Prix du Jockey Club has shone at ParisLongchamp by winning the Grand Prix de Paris and then defeating the French Derby champion Look De Vega in the Prix Niel.
This propelled the son of Sea The Stars to the top of the bookmakers' lists for Europe's most lucrative middle-distance race, and connections hope his familiarity with the French capital's course will be an unbeatable asset on Sunday afternoon. 'Not all horses are accustomed to Longchamp, but he knows the track, which is definitely an advantage for him,' said Wertheimer racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau.
In my opinion, he is currently the best three-year-old French colt at this distance, so it will be fascinating to see if he can be competitive and emerge as the best on Sunday. He is being considered one of the favorites, but I believe there are five or six horses that could be favored. It is a very competitive race, and while he certainly has a good chance, I think the outcome is wide open.
While Sosie's qualifications for the Arc are impressive in their own right, it's also no surprise why the Wertheimer and Frere team wanted Christophe Ferland's filly Aventure to join the Arc lineup. Having won the Prix de Royaumont and Prix de Pomone over the Arc distance this season, she was last seen challenging Bluestocking closely in the Prix Vermeille.
“I think she performed very well in the Vermeille and has won two Group races this year over a mile and a half, so she loves the distance,” continued Bureau. “We considered the l'Opera, but we decided that might be a bit short for her, and it was worth taking a chance against the colts in the big race. It all relates to the mile and a half that she needs.”
As leaders in one of France's top owner-breeding operations and with their name prominently associated with the Parisian institution, the House of Chanel, the Wertheimer brothers are deeply embedded in French culture. It would be quite fitting for them to dominate the capital this weekend, achieving a victory as a result of the meticulous work that goes on behind the scenes in a racing powerhouse poised to reclaim the sport's pinnacle.
“It's a very longstanding and traditional breeding operation and, being based in France, the focus is always on trying to have horses compete in major races like the Arc,” added Bureau. “Having two runners in the Arc with good chances means a lot for the entire team, but now they need to make their mark. It reflects all the hard work of the entire organization, so a positive result would be significant.”
