Sunday previews and tips from Man On The Spot on Arc day
We've got all the views from connections and Man On The Spot verdicts ahead of a massive Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day at ParisLongchamp.
1.20 Longchamp - Parix Marcel Boussac (Group 1)
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Views from connections
The first of six Group Ones on a stellar card is the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac. Charlie Appleby saddles Wild Illusion's half-sister Ceratonia, who was narrowly beaten by the reopposing Rocques in a Group Three here last month.
"She's a half-sister to Wild Illusion, but they are slightly different types," said Appleby.
"Wild Illusion wears cheek pieces, which definitely help her, whereas Ceratonia has worn a hood and we're taking it off this weekend.
"We were happy with her last run, I think that experience will bring her on and hopefully she has a live chance."
Richard Hannon's Star Terms, Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai Beauty and Aidan O'Brien's Pink Dogwood are also in the mix.
O'Brien said: "She's progressed with every run and won in Gowran last time. She's been in good form since then. We always liked her and she's had three runs now."
Man On The Spot verdict
Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby have won the last four renewals between them and both are represented today. The Ballydoyle filly Pink Dogwoood improves with every start and won a maiden by seven lengths at Gowran last time while the Godolphin filly Ceratonia made a winning start at Ascot and ran a big race when second in a Group 3 over track and trip last time. She’s preferred to Dubai Beauty but found the unbeaten ROCQUES too good here and Fabrice Chappet’s charge looks the one beat again with further improvement on the cards. Star Terms is not out of this for the Hannon yard on her second in the May Hill at Doncaster while Matematica may improve past the likes of Lily’s Candle and Lagrandecatherine.
1.55 Longchamp - Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1)
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Views from connections
The juvenile colts get their chance to shine in the following Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
The likely favourite is Freddy Head's Anodor, who is unbeaten in two starts to date, while the raiding party is headed by the Hannon-trained Boitron, who has won each of his three races in the colours of Middleham Park Racing.
Middleham Park's racing manager, Tim Palin, said: "We hope he's high-class. We've circumvented Group Threes and Group Twos to pitch him in here and I think he deserves to be there.
"The horse is in good order. We own 50 per cent and Gerard Augustin-Normand owns 50 per cent and he'll run in his colours this weekend.
"It was either come here or go to the Dewhurst and to be honest, the Dewhurst does look Too Darn Hot this year! We're taking on the likes of Ballydoyle and Godolphin, which is an honour itself."
Man On The Spot verdict
Broome represents last year’s winning yard but the Ballydoyle colt will need to step up on a recent second in Group 2 company at Leopardstown while Royal Marine and Dark Jedi are others with something to prove having only won in maiden and novice company respectively so far. The former beat a subsequent winner at Doncaster, however, and steps up in trip along with Listed winner Boitron. Richard Hannon’s colt remains unbeaten after landing the Washington Singer over 7f at Newbury in good style but ANODOR is another putting his unbeaten record on the line. Freddie Head’s charge had Shaman back in third when winning a Group 3 over course and distance with the minimum of fuss and will likely start a warm order for this.
3.05 Longchamp - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1)
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Views from connections
Kew Gardens leads a five-strong team for Aidan O'Brien into battle in this year's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. It is 11 years since the Ballydoyle handler first claimed Europe's premier middle-distance prize with Dylan Thomas.
O'Brien doubled his tally with Found in 2016 and launches another strong assault, numerically at least, on the ParisLongchamp showpiece on Sunday. Kew Gardens is the yard's chief hope under Ryan Moore after providing his trainer with a sixth victory in the St Leger at Doncaster three weeks ago.
O'Brien said: "Everything has gone well since the Leger and we've been happy with him since. He has won around Longchamp - he won the Grand Prix de Paris there. He seems to be in good form. We were training him for the King George in the middle of the summer and he just had a setback with the rest of the horses (stable bug), so that's why he didn't get to go there."
The apparent second string is Donnacha O'Brien's mount Capri, who won last year's St Leger before beating just one home in the Arc at Chantilly.
The grey son of Galileo made a successful start to the current campaign in the Alleged Stakes at Naas in April, but has run just once since, finishing fifth of six in the Prix Foy over this course and distance last month.
O'Brien added: "We thought that he would improve nicely from the last day and we've been happy with him since."
Magical (Wayne Lordan), Hunting Horn (Seamie Heffernan) and big outsider Nelson (Michael Hussey) complete the quintet.
John Gosden is taking nothing for granted with hot favourite Enable, but everything has gone to plan since her comeback at Kempton.
"She travelled last night, she went through the (Channel) Tunnel early. I don't like them to arrive once racing has started because then there's a lot of movement," Gosden told ITV Racing.
"It hasn't been a straightforward year, but it's been straightforward since she came back.
"I think the betting says who the dangers are, but the Arc is the Arc.
"You can be a short-priced favourite and it doesn't mean much when the gates open."
Sea Of Class is seen as Enable's main danger following her wins in the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, although she has apparently not fared quite as well in the draw with stall 15. And while Team Enable have plenty of experience of the Arc, for William Haggas it is just a second ever runner after his Derby winner Shaamit came up short.
"Her owner, Mrs Tsui, has had two runners in the Arc - Urban Sea, who won, and the second was Sea The Stars, who also won, so she's got an unblemished record," Haggas told At The Races.
"Mine is very blemished, I've had one runner in the Arc, Shaamit, who finished eighth and got injured in the race, so I'd like to have another go and it's nice to go there with a chance. We were very pleased with her at York, as we were at the Curragh, but obviously she's got bigger fish to fry now.
"But, she has a change of speed and that is as crucial as anything in a horse race. The great thing about her was she won two Listed races, but then missed her Group Three and Group Two and went straight into a Classic.
"She was asked to do quite a lot at the Curragh in coming from where she did, but she managed it. After that, the next option against fillies was the Yorkshire Oaks against her elders and she was impressive again.
"Obviously, it is very competitive and my friend and rival up the Bury Road (Gosden) has a great chance, he'd like lots of rain whereas I'd like none. There are also lots of other horses - the Arc is always a championship race."
Man On The Spot verdict
This is all about last year’s convincing winner ENABLE. Unbeaten in five consecutive Group 1 contests last season, John Gosden’s brilliant filly made a belated winning reappearance at Kempton last month and can confirm running with last year’s runner-up Cloth Of Stars despite the worse terms. The latter and stable companion Talismanic filled the places behind a third Andre Fabre runner in Waldgeist in the Prix Foy here last time with Capri, Way To Paris and Clincher further behind. Kew Gardens won the St Leger in good style last month having also landed the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over track and trip earlier when Neufbosc finished second. He looks best of Ballydoyle’s five representatives but Sea Of Class goes from strength to strength having won both the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks during the summer and may turn out the biggest threat, despite a modest draw. French Derby winner Study Of Man has struggled in subsequent starts while Defoe and Salouen looks up against it.
3.50 Longchamp - Prix de l'Opera Longines (Group 1)
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Views from connections
Charlie Appleby is hopeful Wild Illusion can claim another top-level success in the Prix de l'Opera at ParisLongchamp.
The daughter of Dubawi won the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day last season.
She began the current campaign by finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, second in the Oaks at Epsom and second again in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Wild Illusion rediscovered the winning trail when dropped to a mile and a quarter for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and she sticks to that distance on her return to France this weekend.
Appleby said: "She came out of Goodwood in great order and hopefully she goes to Paris with a great chance.
"I think we saw at Goodwood that 10 furlongs is right up her street and I can't see any negatives, to be honest.
"With the way the weather is, we're quite relaxed. She has form on quick ground and slow ground, so we're not too worried either way."
Wild Illusion is the likely favourite in a 16-strong field, with the William Haggas-trained Urban Fox, Sir Michael Stoute's Desert Diamond and Saeed bin Suroor's Winter Lightning also making the trip from Britain.
Aidan O'Brien saddles Magic Wand, last year's winner Rhododendron and Athena.
He said: "Magic Wand is in good form. She ran a very good race there in the Vermeille and we don't think the drop in trip will bother her.
"Rhododendron seems to have come out of the Irish Champion well and Athena ran a good race in the Irish Champion and seems in good form since."
Lady Frankel was only beaten half a length into third place 12 months ago and trainer Andre Fabre is expecting her to be involved once more.
"I quite fancy Lady Frankel. She's a good filly and I thought she should have won the race last year, she was very unlucky," said Fabre.
"She's been lightly raced this season for a reason, I've been aiming for this time of year."
Man On The Spot verdict
This looks a good renewal with Ribblesdale winner Magic Wand, runner-up in last month’s Prix Vermeille here, making most appeal of the Ballydoyle trio ahead of last year’s winner Rhododendron and Athena. She drops back in distance today but Prix Rothschid winner With You is back up in trip having gone close in the French Oaks at Chantilly back in June with Castellar behind. A winner on this card last year, WILD ILLUSION (NAP) is another with strong claims after returning to her very best in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes over today’s trip at Goodwood in August. She needs to reverse earlier running at Ascot with Magic Wand but beat Urban Fox a couple of lengths in the Nassau and the latter has subsequently suffered a narrow-margin defeat in Group 1 company at Deauville, with both Navaro Girl and Lady Frankel behind, so the form looks pretty solid. Charlie Appleby’s filly should make a bold bid in this but the other Godolphin filly Winter Lightning and Desert Diamond look up against it.
4.25 Longchamp - Prix de l'Abbaye De Longchamp (Group 1)
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Views from connections
Connections of Battaash are unsure what to expect when the star sprinter defends his crown in the Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp.
The Charlie Hills-trained four-year-old was a brilliant winner of the five-furlong Group One at Chantilly last season and produced a similarly jaw-dropping display of raw speed when winning the King George Stakes at Goodwood in August for the second year in succession.
However, just like last season, he returns to Paris after finishing a lacklustre fourth in the Nunthorpe at York.
Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "I believe they're very happy with him going into the race. Obviously he's on a bit of a recovery mission after York, but it was the same last year and it didn't stop him then. If he's at his best, he's the one they've all got to beat, but you never quite know what to expect, which is part of the attraction with him."
Just three weeks separated Battassh's Goodwood romp and his below-par effort at York, whereas he has had six weeks to prepare for his latest assignment and Gold thinks the extra time could prove key.
He added: "I do think he goes well fresh. Even though it looked like he won easily at Goodwood, he does take a lot out of himself and maybe he was a bit flat in the Nunthorpe because of that."
Battaash is one of two runners for Sheikh Hamdan, with the Freddy Head-trained Tantheem having been supplemented following successive wins.
"I've been surprised by how much speed she's shown as she's only a small filly," said Gold.
"We gave her a break during the summer and she's come back really well since.
"It might seem a bit strange to supplement her to take on our best horse, but Sheikh Hamdan was happy to do so in case Battaash doesn't fire."
Havana Grey claimed Group One glory in the Flying Five at the Curragh three weeks ago and trainer Karl Burke believes his charge is in even better shape now.
"He is in fantastic form. He's really stepped up since winning the Flying Five - it's almost like he knows he's won a big race," said the Spigot Lodge handler.
"I couldn't be happier with him going into the weekend. It's another tough race and I respect Battaash and a number of other horses, but I'm very hopeful. Stall one is a great draw. He's on the rail, so we're very happy with that."
Bryan Smart's Alpha Delphini and the Michael Dods-trained Mabs Cross renew rivalry following their thrilling tussle in the Nunthorpe at York. The pair passed the post almost as one on the Knavesmire before the judge eventually called 40-1 shot Alpha Delphini the winner by a nose.
Smart told At The Races: "He was great at York, battled all the way to the line and stuck his nose out when he needed to. To be perfectly honest, to go and win that was an absolute dream.
"Graham (Lee) came and rode him last week and was very happy.
"He's got to travel, which he's never done before, and he does get a little bit tense, so that's something we've got to overcome."
Dods admits the fact Mabs Cross is drawn wide in stall 13 is not ideal, but he is still hopeful of a big run. With her regular partner Paul Mulrennan still sidelined and Tom Eaves, who has ridden her the last twice, also out injured, veteran French jockey Gerald Mosse will be on board for the first time.
"We'd would have preferred to have been drawn a bit lower, but we are where we are and we'll try to make the best of it," said Dods.
"She seems in great form. It's a tough race, but I'm very happy with her and hopefully she'll run well. With Tom injured now we've another new jockey, but Gerald is world-class and he knows the track."
Aidan O'Brien saddles Lost Treasure, Different League, Sioux Nation and Declarationofpeace, while Darren Bunyan's stable star Hit The Bid also travels from Ireland.
Bunyan said: "The going was bad when we took him to Newbury a couple of weeks ago, so we didn't run him. He never handled the ground the time before in the Flying Five at the Curragh, but was only beaten a length and a neck (finished fourth). He ran a hell of race for a horse that didn't handle the ground that day. If we get our ground in France, you'll see a whole different horse again. I know it's a very good race and I know you need luck on your side."
The home team includes Stephane Wattel's City Light and Finsbury Square, who finished fourth two years ago.
Man On The Spot verdict
Last year’s four-length winner BATTAASH is hard to oppose if reproducing a similar effort. Below par in the Nunthorpe at York last time, Charlie Hills’ sprinter had won a couple of Group 2 sprints earlier in the year and beat subsequent Group 1 winner Havana Grey on both occasions. The latter beat the re-opposing Mabs Cross and Sioux Nation at the Curragh and Ryan Moore sticks with the Scat Daddy colt of Ballydoyle’s four runners while City Light had been in fine form before beaten by Tantheem in a trial race over track and trip last month. Freddie Head’s filly could run a big race today but the two-year-old Soldier’s Call will find life tough against these battle-hardened sprinters having won the Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster last month. Alpha Delphini beat Mabs Cross in the Nunthorpe so can't be ignored.
5.00 Longchamp - Prix de la Foret (Group 1)
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Views from connections
The final Group One of the day is the Qatar Prix de la Foret, in which Freddy Head's Polydream and George Scott's stable star James Garfield renew rivalry after finishing first and second in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
James Garfield has since disappointed in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, however.
Speaking on his website, Scott said: "James Garfield has been in tremendous form. He's been drawn in stall 11, which is a little higher than I would have liked, but it's certainly not the end of the world.
"Frankie Dettori has a wonderful relationship with the horse and I'm looking forward to seeing him get back aboard. The easy seven furlongs of Longchamp should suit him well and I'm expecting a big run."
Aidan O'Brien runs Gustav Klimt, who was a close-up third in the Sprint Cup on his most recent outing.
He said: "He's in good form. He's obviously going back up to seven furlongs, but we were delighted with his run the last day. We think he's still on the upgrade."
Man On The Spot verdict
Polydream is another likely short-priced favourite on today’s card and deservedly so having won a Group 1 contest at Deauville in August when beating James Garfield with Inns Of Court further behind. She had earlier beaten Jimmy Two Times over track and trip and must go close but a sporting punt is taken on TEPPAL. Below par in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot in June, she’s been rested since but looks a big price if forgiven that run as David Simcock’s filly won the French 1000 Guineas here on her seasonal debut with Polydream well beaten. Sir Dancealot is another to consider despite struggling in heavy going dropped back to 6f for a Group 1 sprint at Haydock last time. He’d earlier won both the Lennox and Hungerford Stakes over today’s trip and beat the likes of Gustav Klimt, Karar, Dutch Connection and So Beloved in the process. One Master won a Group 3 at the Curragh for the Haggas yard last time and Tornibush scored at the same level over track and trip last month with four of these behind.
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