Longchamp Arc Trials: Friendly Soul wins Prix Vermeille for Gosdens

The John & Thady Gosden-trained mare had ensured some tough luck since her previous top-class success in the 2024 Prix de l'Opera but, on the back of a promising Nassau Stakes second to Diamond Necklace at Goodwood, returned to Longchamp under James Doyle.

Drawn in stall five, she was away well and sat handily before taking up the running. Composing made headway to keep her company as the pair of them locked horns from a fair way out, but it soon became clear Friendly Soul had seen off the Aidan O'Brien outsider, with the chasing pack still having to bridge a gap of around three or four lengths.

Eventual second Pink Panthera (10/1) looked a threat when closing up inside the final furlong but Friendly Soul's stamina held out well as she lunged for the line to score by three-quarters of a length, with the very slow-starting Sunly (7/2) looking unlucky having run on late down the outside of the pack to take third.

Friendly Soul, entered in the Opera again, is not yet engaged for next month's Arc back over the same course and distance, Paddy Power and Sky Bet added her to their antepost book at 25/1 and also cut the winner to 16/1 from 40/1 for the British Champion Stakes at Ascot.

"It's a hugely sporting decision from her owner George Strawbridge, to keep her in training again at this age," said Thady Gosden on Sky Sports Racing. "Of course, the last time she was here she won the Prix de l'Opera a couple of years ago now. In similar style too, she likes to do things her own way. She didn't have it easy at all, she probably attacked three (furlongs) out in the false straight there and was never really able to get a breather.

"But she's a hugely talented filly and very tough too, it's great to have her back at her best. It's obviously her first time over a mile and a half as well and it was slightly unknown territory before this.

"She's a sister to three Group 1 winners and it's a pedigree to die for. It's wonderful for her to win over this trip."

Regarding a potential tilt at the Arc, he said: "I haven't had a chance to speak to George and Juliette, but we'll see how she comes out of the race and see where they want to go with her. She enjoyed the ground there today, for us it's probably good or slightly faster, which she handled well. If it comes up soft, we know she likes that so we'll have to see how she is."

Francis Graffard, trainer of the eyecatching Sunly, said: "It's just bad luck, she stumbled coming out of the stalls. She got left behind and then she got bumped going back in the straight but as everybody saw she flew home.

"She's a very good filly, she's definitely a Group 1 filly. She hasn't won one yet but she's a great filly. I was very upset after the race but you can't blame anybody.

"She can still run in the Arc. I stick to the plan we have, this is just a lack of luck in the race. If she comes out well, we will discuss it bit if she is in good form then there is no reason she can't take her chance in the Arc."

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Paddy Power: 9/4 Daryz, 5/1 Maltese Cross, 7/1 Kalpana, 12/1 Item, Thundering On, Varandir, 16/1 Bay City Roller, 20s Diamond Necklace, Minnie Hauk, Sunly, 25s Alam, Almaqam, Aventure, Constitution River, Friendly Soul, 33 bar.

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