Draw setback for So You Think

Sarafina and So You Think have been handed unfavourable draws for Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The pair were disputing favouritism for the big race but have been handed stalls 13 and 14 respectively and only two horses in the last seven races have been placed from double-figure draws.

No horse from the southern hemisphere has ever won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but those who have been close to So You Think believe the bigger field and lively ground will be a benefit to him, and that he will get the mile-and-a-half trip.

In his races in Europe since arriving at Ballydoyle from Australia, the most rivals he has faced has been six, in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, forcing him to do a lot of his own donkey work.

So You Think ran in the colours of Malaysian tycoon Dato Tan Chin Nam in Australia, including in the two-mile Melbourne Cup, and his racing manager, Duncan Ramage, believes the race will be run to suit.

Ramage said: "Reports from Ireland are that there are no negatives in his preparation.

"Because of the small field at Leopardstown he was left to do a lot of his own hard work from the front.

"Any horse left on their own in front for so long is bound to find it a bit tough, but once Snow Fairy eyeballed him he picked up again.

"In the Arc there will be more horses in the field which are able to take him along for a longer time.

"As he showed in the Eclipse, he was very effective when sitting behind Workforce before arriving late on.

"The Arc can be a rough race, but he's a Kiwi and, like the rugby players have shown over the last couple of weeks, he's certainly not shy of a bit of rough and tumble.

"It looks like there's going to be minimal rain, which will not be a problem as he's competed on some of the hardest tracks in Australia.

"It's the first time he's race beyond a mile and a quarter in Europe, but he has raced very effectively at two miles.

"Had last year's Melbourne Cup been on a dry track we might also have got away with it."

O'Brien, who has won the Arc just once with Dylan Thomas in 2007, admitted to slight reservations regarding the trip as So You Think is so good at 10 furlongs.

He said: "We all do our best every day with every horse and that's all we can do.

"The Arc is a big race and an important race and we are looking forward to it.

"We were delighted with him the other day (Irish Champion Stakes) on his first run back.

"He's a mile-and-a-quarter specialist, he quickens very well, but he's a very good traveller and is getting a little lazy when he gets to the front.

"He's a very straightforward horse and he was a natural when he came to us. It's very exciting and a brave decision to run. We're delighted that he's going there.

"He was a great horse when he came to us, and we're trying our best not to mess him up really.

"It's very sporting of the lads (Coolmore) to run him."

Alain Royer-Dupre has aimed Sarafina at the Arc all season after many believed her to be unlucky when third 12 months ago.

Her win in the Prix Foy advertised her explosive turn of foot, and the trainer hopes to win with another filly after the brilliant Zarkava in 2008.

"She needed the race in the Prix Foy. She did what we asked. Maybe it was dangerous to pass between the two horses, but she fought very well and came back and had an easy race," he told At The Races.

"She is more manageable now. When she was three sometimes she pulled and was difficult to ride. She is now better in her attitude and she was unlucky last year.

"She is on a similar level to the best horses I have trained. She has a very strong turn of foot. That is her main quality.

"It depends on the ground. She won on very firm ground in Saint-Cloud and she ran very well in the Arc when it was soft.

"We made the Arc the target from the beginning of the season. That is why she stopped when the weather was very hot and gave her the one race to prepare for the big one."

Royer-Dupre is lucky enough to have a very strong second string to his bow in French Derby winner Reliable Man, although quick ground may be a concern for him

"He is very easy to ride, he never pulls and he is very easy to train," he said.

"The ground was too firm when he was beaten in the Grand Prix de Paris.

"He had a problem after the race. He coughed, so we can forget that race.

"If the ground is too firm he is not the same horse."

Ed Dunlop was not overjoyed with Snow Fairy's draw for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe although, as she is usually restrained early in her races, he feels it is not as important to her as it would be to some of the others.

"We're not in one to eight, but neither are So You Think or Sarafina so that's what has happened," he said.

"With her I don't think it's as essential as a horse who needs to be close to the pace. We've got what we've got so we'll make the most of it.

"I think she's adaptable trip-wise.

"She's won two Oaks, and won over a mile-and-three in Japan so I'm hoping I won't be using the excuse, if we're not good enough, that we didn't stay as she won an Irish Oaks on heavy ground and was still on the bridle in the Leger with two furlongs to run.

"I think she's got enough speed and class that she's as effective over a mile and a quarter.

"We never really envisaged the ground would be suitable enough for her to run in the Arc, even though we put her in, so Mrs (Cristina) Patino (owner) is very excited as she has a runner in the Arc for the first time so we'll give it a rumble.

"We're under no illusions that it's going to be very tough but she deserves to be there."

The full draw is as follows: