The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the biggest race weekend in France, with the premium race touted by France Galop as “the biggest race in the world!”
There are a total of 16 Group races over the weekend, with 6 Group 1 races on Sunday, October 1st - including the Prix de l’Opera Longines featuring our very own Blue Rose Cen.
This was the busiest race weekend I’ve had as of yet, but one of the most rewarding.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I ended up adding Hospitality Manager and chauffeur to my communications title. The week leading up to the race consisted of making restaurant reservations, coordinating airport pickup schedules and visits to see the horses, and finalizing our hospitality and tickets for the big day.
Our racing manager Jose Luis was also in town for the week. A champion jockey from Spain (aka Magic Martinez) and just an overall nice guy, I got to witness his star power when we attended the races in Chantilly last Thursday. We were standing outside the parade ring, where jockeys mount the horses before they head out to the course. Even though they were in the zone, I witnessed each one of them get a huge smile on their face as they noticed him and said hi on their way out.
I got to meet a few more jockeys myself that day with my race buddy Jose Luis. In between our adventures at the stables, races, and shops, I was lucky to be part of the Yeguada Centurion dynamic duo with him for the weekend. After one final shopping adventure and a trip to the Irish pub on Friday night, it was time for the real fun to begin.
Saturday arrived and in typical pre-planning fashion, everything had to be adjusted. I had created a nice little spreadsheet with our schedule for the weekend, but I woke up to a call that someone had missed their flight connection and would now be arriving Sunday (the morning of the race). Luckily Jose Luis and I both had cars, so problem solving sprung into action as we divided and conquered the travel plans.
We moved forward with our visit to Christopher’s stables on Saturday afternoon , looking at our 22 (yes 22!) horses that are currently in training with him. (Stay tuned for how we got to that number…). After checking in the group for dinner at the hotel, it was straight to the airport to pick up another guest, where Jose Luis complimented my driving speed by nicknaming me Charles Leclerc (my favorite F1 driver).
Finally, Sunday arrived. Our departures were fragmented as one car headed to the airport again and the other left directly for Paris Longchamps, but we both somehow arrived within minutes of each other. A sign of good things to come…
Upon our arrival, I was in charge of requesting our access to the racecourse. As we walked inside, I don’t think I’ve ever seen more people at a race with an expected 35,000 spectators and 250 accredited journalists in attendance (our group of 13 included). And then there was the fanfare, with a horse marching band and celebrations across the hippodrome that made it feel like I was at the Ryder Cup. Although this is the busiest race in France, as a propriétaire (owner) we had access to the presentation ring, the stables, and the owners’ loge.
After picking up our badges, we made our way to the Salon Ribot, our spot for lunch. It was reminiscent of Le Jardin at the Prix de Diane, with open seating, live music, and a buffet style lunch. Once the group was settled, I made my way around the racecourse to sort out our video plans and check on Blue Rose Cen.
With this being my third trip in one month to Paris Longchamps, I felt comfortable walking the grounds. The races are starting to feel like home for me, running into new friends that I’ve made in the horse racing community (from owners to trainers to the France Galop team).
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was the fourth race of the day, and then it was time for l’Opera. I took our group of 13 to see Blue Rose Cen for her final walk in the stables before heading to the parade ring and sprinting back to Salon Ribot to watch the race. The next challenge: getting a video of Leopoldo and our group watching the race while trying not to scream too loud or shake my hands too much… the second was accomplished, but the first not so much as Blue Rose Cen raced to victory. Marilina and I both started crying as we all embraced each other.
All of the gates to the track are closed between races for obvious safety reasons, but I practiced my French and learned the magic word was “propriétaire.” Our group quickly ducked under the barriers to witness Blue Rose Cen be crowned the champion of the Prix de l’Opera.
I ran into so many people on our way to the parade ring for the trophy presentation, including some I’ve met in person before and some I was meeting for the first time. Everyone greeted us with hugs and congratulations as we cried happy tears for Blue Rose Cen returning to the top. I even got stopped by my new security guard friend that I have encountered several times now throughout the French racing circuit, who couldn’t stop admiring the winning photo I was carrying.
Our day at the racecourse wrapped up with a champagne toast and some photo booth fun for Jose Luis and I, where we gladly shared our victory with multiple spectators who wanted a turn with the trophy. After surviving the hottest October day in France, my cheeks hurt more from the permanent smile on my face.
I listened to Leopoldo re-watching the race the entire car ride back to Chantilly. We both agreed that our jockey Aurelien had an incredible race, swiftly moving from the lead position and back to fourth (pulling to the outside) before making a beautiful charge down the final furlong to win by a neck over Irish horse Jackie Oh (Gallileo).
This was Blue Rose Cen’s FOURTH Group 1 victory (following the 2022 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium Des Pouliches at Paris Longchamps, the 2023 Emirates Poule d’Essai Des Pouliches, and most recently the Prix de Diane Longines).
We all knew that our star 3-year-old filly had it in her. The daughter of Churchill and Queen Blossom was unlucky at a couple Group 1 races after her Prix de Diane victory, including a run at Goodwood where she got boxed in and the Prix De Vermeilles a couple weeks ago that just was not her distance (2400m was too long for her right now, compared to the Opera length of 2000m). However, I have witnessed her spirit and drive every day in training, including the dedication of her cavalière Caro, and knew it was just a matter of time before she returned to the top.
I had a couple of people come up to me after the race and say that I’m lucky to have started my career with two incredible horses, Blue Rose Cen and Big Rock. And they are right. Luck is involved, but it’s all due to the incredible team that works so hard to make success happen.
And then there’s Blue Rose Cen, who makes my job easy - she writes her own story.
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