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Friday’s racing round-up includes a ninth juvenile Stakes winner for Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett…
Maranoa Charlie is now three from three after cantering to easy success in the seven-furlong Group 3 Thomas Byron Jockey Club De Turquie Stakes at Saint-Cloud. He became Wootton Bassett's ninth juvenile Stakes winner this season, having made every yard of the running to finish eight lengths clear of the field. The colt follows in the footsteps of Continuous, the Aidan O'Brien-trained St Leger winner, who took the same prize before going on to Classic glory. Connections have suggested that their next port of call will be the Criterium International over the same track and trip.
The weather forecast is becoming increasingly significant on the eve of the two-day Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp. According to the French penetrometer system, the ground is 'souple', which the going stick makes good to soft, with some good on the bends. Although a 50% chance of rain has been forecast for Saturday, the Clerk of the Course - Charles de Cordon – has implied will not have any great bearing on Sunday's ground. If rain is avoided altogether, he claims, it is more likely that we will see 'bon souple' ground for the 'Arc'.
The Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent enjoyed the first Listed success of his career in the 1m6f Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot, in the hands of jockey Oisin Murphy. The three-year-old gelding had already produced three wins in handicap company this season and took the step up in class within his stride, always prominent before running on well to record a two-and-a-half length success. Connections may wait until next year to try tougher waters in Group company.
Aidan O'Brien gave a positive update on Breeders' Cup hopeful City Of Troy in the aftermath of his Southwell gallop in late September. In an interview with Sky Sports Racing, he said: ""He's very good. We were delighted with him at Southwell and everything has gone very well with him since. He's started his build up now and so far everything seems good. I think they'll all go the Friday or Saturday the weekend they need to be there (1/2 November), I think that's the plan."