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Niel next for Feed The Flame

3 minute read

Grand Prix de Paris winner Feed The Flame will take in the Prix Niel at Longchamp before a run in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on 1 October.

Racecourse : Longchamp (France) Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

The Group 1 Prix Niel is the traditional three-year-old trial race for the 'Arc', run over the same course and distance three weeks earlier. Twelve horses have completed the Niel-Arc double since 1954, including Rail Link in 2006.

Although Feed The Flame was well-beaten into fourth behind Ace Impact in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly in June, the colt bounced back with a comfortable victory in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, also run over the same track and trip as the 'Arc'.

He faced stiff opposition in Group 1 Epsom Oaks winner Soul Sister and Aidan O'Brien's Adelaide River. The son of Kingman was adrift of the field in the early stages after colliding with the stalls at the start, but made up significant ground in the final furlong to beat Adelaid River by a length with Soul Sister a further neck behind in third.

"Tres bien, he is very well," said trainer Pascal Bary.

"He's to run on the 10th of September in the Prix Niel.

"He needs that [run over course and distance] before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

"He knows the course very well now, he has won there three times."

Feed The Flame is third-favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, generally available at 7/1.