Ryan Moore has abandoned Aidan O'Brien's leading hope for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after Diamond Necklace received a disastrous draw for the Classic-winning filly. Moore had been expected to partner Diamond Necklace, beaten only once in seven starts, in Sunday's £4.3 million showpiece at ParisLongchamp ahead of Thursday evening's draw ceremony.
Wide draw proves costly
Stall position is considered vital for Europe's richest race, with a wide draw potentially ending a horse's chances of victory. When Diamond Necklace's name was pulled, she was given stall 16, the widest position in the entire field, while defending champion Daryz was handed stall five.
Only one winner has ever triumphed from stall 16, and with the statistics stacked against Diamond Necklace, Moore switched to Benvenuto Cellini, the Irish Derby winner who was drawn in stall one.
Jockey reshuffle and betting impact
As a result, ten-time French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon will now partner Diamond Necklace, while William Buick picked up the mount on Minnie Hauk, last year's Arc runner-up, who starts from stall eight.
There was a noticeable effect on the betting, with Coral cutting Daryz to 13-8 favourite from 7-4, while Diamond Necklace was pushed out to 10-1 from 8-1. Diamond Necklace is out to 14-1 with William Hill, who slashed Benvenuto Cellini to 14-1 from 25-1.
Other contenders and draws
Daryz is bidding to become the first colt to achieve back-to-back wins in the race since Alleged in 1977 and 1978. George Scott's Bay City Roller will require all of Oisin Murphy's riding prowess from stall 15, while Maltese Cross must overcome the recent jinx associated with stall 11, which has yet to produce a winner in nearly 40 years.
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes victor Kalpana sits alongside Daryz in stall six, with Friendly Soul in seven and Roger Varian's Saddadd in nine. Joseph O'Brien's Thundering On, who impressed at Epsom in the Oaks, has landed what appears to be an ideal draw in stall three.
