Racing: So You Think has wide draw to beat

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History awaits crack New Zealand stallion So You Think in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's most prestigious flat race, tomorrow morning.

So You Think is bidding to become the first runner from the Southern Hemisphere to win the Arc.

Brilliant chestnut Balmerino ran second to the great Alleged in the 1977 running and put New Zealand's bloodstock industry on the map.

So You Think beat favourite Workforce in the Coral Eclipse Stakes earlier this northern summer but does not have much experience at the 2400m distance.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, who won the Arc with Dylan Thomas in 2007, So You Think will have to overcome a wide draw when he starts from stall 14, away from the inside rail.

Warm favourite Workforce will need to overcome fast ground conditions if he is to become the first horse in 33 years to repeat as winner of the Arc.

The dry and sunny weather forecast at Longchamp racecourse could make the conditions difficult tomorrow morning (NZT) for some runners, including Workforce, who prefers slower ground.

In Friday's draw, the four-year-old entire was handed stall eight, the same as last year. Trained by Michael Stoute and with jockey Ryan Moore aboard, Workforce will attempt to become the first back-to-back champion since Alleged won for a second time in 1978.

"I hope it's as lucky as last year. He's fared better [in the draw] than some of the other fancied runners," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Workforce owner Khalid Abdullah. Total prize money for the Arc is $6,896,500.