World’s richest jockey backed to win Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after kicking younger rival off big ride

MONEY has poured in for the ‘world’s richest jockey’ in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – after he kicked a younger rival off a big ride.

Irish rider Dylan Browne McMonagle, 21, has ridden Al Riffa in both his Group 1 victories.

Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle has been kicked off the big ride on Al Riffa in favour of Yutaka Take, the world’s richest jockeySportsfile

AlamyTake will carry the hopes of a nation when he rides Japanese horse Al Riffa in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe[/caption]

That includes last time out when the duo impressed in landing the Grosser Preis von Berlin – a race won by previous Arc winners Torquator Tasso and Alpinista.

But an ownership change of Al Riffa means it’s wily old veteran Yutaka Take, 55, who will take the ride.

Take is an absolute legend in his native Japan – he’s even had several horses named after him – but a relative unknown on these shores.

He might be a bit more familiar to French punters have ridden in their most prestigious race many times before.

But he’s never won the Arc – no Japanese horse ever has – and it’s awesome £2.5million first-place prize.

Not that it has stopped him winning a truly incredible sum on the track over the course of his career, though.

Take is believed to be the highest-earning jockey in the history of racing with career earnings said to be in the £700million mark.

You wouldn’t find many bookies willing to take a bet that big these days.

But there has been significant cash behind his mount Al Riffa in Sunday’s Arc.

Paddy Power make the the Joseph O’Brien-trained four-year-old an 11-1 chance.

And spokesperson Paul Binfield said: “The Arc market hasn’t ignited yet with ground conditions a bit up in the air and Thursday’s all-important draw still to come.

“But Al Riffa has attracted some cash on the back of Joseph O’Brien having legendary Japanese pilot Yutaka Take come into his Kilkenny nerve centre last week to get a feel of the Eclipse runner-up ahead of Sunday’s European middle-distance showpiece.”

The Irish bookies make Sosie the 7-2 favourite with long-time ante-post market leader Look De Vega the 11-2 second-fav.

However, Coral have seen more money for Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega and make him 5-1 from 6-1.

The firm’s David Stevens said: “Look De Vega was only displaced as Arc favourite following his Prix Niel defeat to Sosie, but with punters reacting to the growing confidence connections have in their Prix du Jockey Club winner, it would not be hard to see him return to the head of what remains a wide open big race market.”

The ground is currently good to soft at Longchamp and it looks like it will be a dry week.

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