German filly's Arc dream in the balance

German jockey Andrasch Starke, riding Danedream, crossing the finish line of the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe outside Paris in 2011. Danedream’s bid to become the first horse in over 30 years to win Europe’s most prestigious race the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in successive years was plunged into doubt on Monday because of a health scare at the stables where she is based.

PARIS - German filly Danedream’s bid to become the first horse in over 30 years to win Europe’s most prestigious race the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in successive years was plunged into doubt on Monday because of a health scare at the stables where she is based.

The Peter Schiergen-trained star – who won the Arc in a track record time last year and by one of the largest ever winning distances – was favourite to emulate Alleged’s feat of 1977 and 1978 on Sunday at Longchamp racecourse.

However, her chances of even lining up looked slim on Monday after Cologne racecourse stables were shut down for three months after a horse tested positive for an equine infection of the blood.

Patrick Barbe, racing manager for Danedream’s part-owner, Teruya Yoshida, said there was nothing wrong with Danedream but the rules could prove impossible to overcome.

“At the moment, Danedream is very well and has not been infected,” said Barbe.

“There is only one horse that has gone down with the illness and is stabled on the other side of the racecourse.

“Because the Arc is in a few days’ time, I’m very pessimistic she will be allowed to run.”

Danedream, who showed her Arc win was no fluke by winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July and then a second successive Grosser Preis von Baden Baden, would be only the second filly ever to win successive Arcs.

Corrida won the great race in 1936/37 but had a tragic end as she disappeared from her paddock during the World War II battle for Normandy in 1944 with the most popular theory being a German officer commandeered her.