Fabre is pleased with Sosie's performance in Prix Niel

Andre Fabre was pleased to see that Sosie came through Sunday’s Prix Niel with what appeared to be a relatively easy race, enhancing his credentials as the new favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Sosie, who previously finished third behind Look De Vega in the Prix du Jockey Club, has shown significant improvement since being stepped up to a mile and a half. He claimed victory in both the Grand Prix de Paris and now in this key Arc trial.

At 78, Fabre, who first won Europe’s premier race with Trempolino in 1987, is aiming for an unprecedented fifth decade of Arc victories. He has previously won four times in the 1990s, twice in the 2000s, and most recently with Waldgeist in 2019.

Fabre commented, "I was concerned about the Jockey Club winner, who ran well but may not have been at his peak for this race. However, I was satisfied with Sosie’s performance."

"Horses must have a relatively easy race before the Arc, and Sosie didn’t seem to exert himself too much, which is encouraging."

"While Sosie excels at Longchamp, I believe he would perform well on any track. The races we’ve targeted have been at Longchamp, and it suits him."

Fabre had earlier considered good ground essential for Sosie, but as the colt has matured, he now feels he can handle softer ground better.

"He’s bred for a mile and a half, and we’ve been preparing him for those distances. He wasn’t fully fit for the Prix du Jockey Club, so his improvement with the step-up in trip is not surprising."

"While I still think he performs better on good ground, mature horses generally adapt better to softer conditions. However, I would prefer good ground if possible. Longchamp can be unpredictable; last year, the ground was fast for the Arc."

"I believe Sosie deserves a place in the top three for the Arc. Whether he can win remains to be seen, as this year’s crop of three-year-olds is not particularly outstanding."