Gregory Benoist has elected to ride Ectot over Avenir Certain in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday week.
It was said to be a tough decision for the jockey, he has sided with the Elie Lellouche-trained colt, who burst into the picture with victory in the Prix Niel on Arc Trials day, in his first race for five months.
Christophe Lemaire will partner the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Avenir Certain, winner of the French 1000 Guineas and the French Oaks under Benoist.
"Gregory Benoist will ride Ectot and Christophe Lemaire will ride Avenir Certain," said Sylvain Vidal, racing manager to Gerard Augustin-Normand, who part-owns both horses.
Al Shaqab Racing recently bought a major interest in Ectot, meaning Frankie Dettori could have been in line for the ride had Benoist chosen Avenir Certain.
Vidal continued: "Both horses are very well and it was very hard for Gregory to choose between them.
"Gregory was in Pau on Tuesday to ride Avenir Certain in a very good gallop, so it was very hard to choose one, but he did.
"Ectot is not difficult to ride, but has a lot of character, so for the team I think this was the best decision.
"Avenir Certain is very easy to ride and Ectot could be a little bit tense in the race.
"Gregory Benoist has always ridden him, so he knows him very well. He won his first Group One race on him (the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in November) as well."
Ectot and Avenir Certain are vying for outright second-favouritism in the Arc behind the John Gosden-trained Oaks and King George winner Taghrooda.
Clearly delighted with what is a dream spare ride, Lemaire tweeted: "My ride in the Arc will be Avenir Certain!!!"
Having lost the ride in the Arc on last year's winner Treve to Thierry Jarnet, Dettori could turn to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ruler Of The World, an impressive winner in his own right in the Prix Foy.
