PARIS (AP) After being overtaken right at the end by long-shot Solemia in last year's dramatic finish, jockey Christophe Soumillon will try to make amends as Orfevre again starts favorite to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.
Orfevre, Japan's 2011 Horse of the Year after winning a Triple Crown, received a favorable draw on Friday in stall 8 much better than last year's outside No. 18 position.
The positive draw saw the 5-year-old's odds trimmed to 9-4 while Treve's odds went out to 9-2 for a bad draw in a strong 18-horse field.
Orfevre looked to be a sure winner last year when he took the lead with about 300 meters to go. But the 33-1 rank outsider Solemia, urged on by French jockey Olivier Peslier, moved past Orfevre on the outside.
While Soumillon looks to make up for last year, Peslier wants to make outright history as he rides for Andre Fabre on Intello, although soft ground is to the 3-year-old colt's disadvantage as reflected by odds of 12-1 with leading bookmakers.