Favorites draw outside in Arc

Ante-post favorites So You Think and Sarafina will be forced to overcome wide post positions in

Sunday's Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Only Dalakhani

and Sakhee have managed to win from double-figure stalls since 1993, and both

Sarafina (13) and So You Think (14) face an instant disadvantage as they bid to

crown successful campaigns.

So You Think, who will be partnered once again by

Seamus Heffernan after the pair were successful in the July 2 Group 1Eclipse S. at

Sandown and  Group 1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown September 3, was not the only Ballydoyle raider to fare badly with the draw as stable companion Treasure Beach

will exit from the 12 hole under Colm O'Donoghue. Joseph O'Brien's booking for

St Nicholas Abbey completes the trio

of homegrown talent employed for the Rosegreen contenders. The latter has drawn

6, which has proved lucky in recent years as the stall from which Hurricane

Run, Dylan Thomas and Sea the Stars broke.

This is So You Think's biggest test to date despite his tally of eight Group 1 wins and Aidan

O'Brien is approaching the race with relish.

"The Arc is an important race, we

are delighted he's going there and are looking forward to it," O'Brien said.

"This is the boys' decision and it's very exciting, as he's a mile-and-a-quarter

specialist who quickens very well. We were delighted with him in the Irish

Champion, as it was his first run back from a break. He's a very straightforward

horse and was a natural when he came to us -- he's a great traveler who is

getting a little lazy when he gets to the front now."

Also drawn high is Snow Fairy, but trainer

Ed Dunlop was not panicking Friday.

"It is not an ideal draw, but I don't

consider it makes too much difference to us in view of Snow Fairy's style of

racing," he said. "You can't have everything and we have our ground.

Good-to-soft in France is totally different to what it is in Britain and with 29

degrees forecast for the weekend the going will definitely ride on the fast

side."

Success for Snow Fairy would be the first for an older filly or mare

since Urban Sea 18 years ago, but last year's Group 1 English and Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine

loves traveling abroad for the big occasions. Improving for the change of

scenery when capturing the ultra-competitive November 14 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II

Commemorative Cup and December 12 Group 1 Hong Kong Cup, she ruffled So You Think's

feathers on her latest excursion for the Irish Champion.

"Our filly has had a

trouble-free preparation and, while we are under no illusions that she faces a

very tough task, she looks to have improved again since the Irish Champion S.

and we will give it our best shot," Dunlop continued. "The Arc is a hard race to

win, but we go there with a sporting chance."

One who enjoyed greater fortune with the post position was Workforce, who will race from the same stall eight from which

he was successful 12 months ago. Connections are happy with the state of the

ground, having walked the track.

"I hope the draw is as lucky as last year and he's

fared better than some of the other fancied runners," Khalid Abdulla's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe

told PA Sport. "We walked the track this

morning and it is on the easy side of good, they put 10 millimeters on so from

that point of view we are fairly happy. Obviously, depending on what the weather

does, they will consider putting more on and review the situation on Saturday

night and I'm hopeful of a happy outcome. He's had a few problems but you can't

say he's an unlucky horse, as he's won an Arc and a (Group 1) Derby so he's had things go

right for him as well and that's racing.

"It's obviously great to

have Ryan (Moore) back, for all the best reasons. He knows him, he's the only

one to have ridden him, he knows what to expect. We don't feel pressure, that's

not the right word. We look forward to these races -- it is what you are involved

in the game for. There have not been many dual Arc winners and we've got a bit

of work to do to join them."

Teruya Yoshida on Friday acquired a half share in Germany's Arc hope Danedream,

who will break from stall 2 which housed the

1994 and 1997 heroes Carnegie and Peintre Celebre, respectively.

"She will be ridden on Sunday by

my stable jockey Andrasch Starke, but will be wearing new colors," trainer

Peter Schiergen told the Racing Post Friday. The

arrangement is that she will be staying in training with me next season, but go

to stud in Japan in 2013."

Danedream, who was supplemented on Thursday, cost the

Volz family of Gestut Burg Eberstein just €9,000 at the 2010 Baden-Baden

Breeze-Up Sale. She has since won the Group 2 Oaks d'Italia at the San Siro May 29,

Group 1 Deutschland-Preis at Hoppegarten July 24 and September 4 Group 1 Grosser Preis von

Baden.

"I'm not worried about the going, she can act on any ground; it was very

fast when she won the Italian Oaks and again at Hoppegarten, and testing at

Baden-Baden," Schiergen added.