Westerner Given Arc Go-Ahead

Alec Wildenstein has revealed his brilliant stayer Westerner will line up in the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 2.

There had been speculation as to whether the six-year-old, trained by Elie Lellouche, would contest the autumn highlight or the Prix Du Cadran on the same card, a race he has won for the last two years.

However, the owner has only one event in mind.

He said: 'Although there are two weeks to go, he will definitely, all being well, run in the Arc de Triomphe.'

Westerner, who was an impressive winner of this year´s Ascot Gold Cup at York, was last seen in action when a two-and-a-half-length third to Warrsan in the Grosser Preis Von Baden at Baden-Baden on September 4.

According to Wildenstein, he has done well since and there were excuses for that performance.

'He has come out of Germany very well and his legs are fine,' he enthused.

'The race there was run very slow in the beginning and he was pulling because he didn´t have the plugs in his ears - he just had the bonnets on - and he didn´t relax.

'The plugs help him to switch off.'

The Frenchman is hopeful of a good run from his charge on the big day.

He said: 'It is very difficult to evaluate the six-year-olds against the three and four-year-olds. I think the four-year-olds are not good but the three-year-olds could be.

'It was always a decision to run him over a mile and a half and he has got the mentality and the speed for the race - I am hopeful he will run well and he would have a chance, but as I said it is tricky to weigh up these inter-generational contests.'

Wildenstein´s father Daniel won the Arc on four occasions courtesy of Allez France in 1974, All Along nine years later, Sagace in 1984 and Peintre Celebre in 1997.

'My father was successful in the race five times,' he declared. 'He was demoted once [Sagace again passed the post first in 1985 but was placed second to Rainbow Quest] and that is still a contentious decision in my mind.

'In any case, the Arc is always a race you want to win.'

Wildenstein also confirmed that Ostankino, second to Reefscape in last week´s Prix Gladiateur and also trained by Lellouche, will run in the Prix Du Cadran.

(C) PA Sport