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Preview: Arc Trial Weekend.
Longchamp hosts one of the biggest meetings of the season on Sunday with six Group races on a mammoth ten race card. Feature race is the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille (2400m), set aside for the fillies and mares, three-year-olds and upward. In addition, a further two key Arc prep races, the G2 Qatar Prix Niel (2400m) (for three-year-olds) and G2 Qatar Prix Foy (2400m) (for four-year-olds and upward) alongside the G1 Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (2000m) for Arabian Bred horses and two G3 trial races sets the scene for an excellent day of racing.
Longchamp on Sunday hosts one of the feature meetings of the season in France with the traditional 'Arc Trials' being run. In total six Group races will be contested.
A highlight of the meeting will be the Prix Vermeille (G1). Run over 2400m, this race is restricted to fillies and mares, three-year-olds and upward. Some champion fillies have won this race before then gone on to win three weeks later the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Horses such as Treve and Zarkava completed the double this Century.
Competitors this year will include some smart three-year-olds, who receive a 3.5kg weight allowance against their old rivals. La Parisienne was runner-up in the Prix Diane (G1) behind Nashwa (winner of a further G1 race) and gave the impression this extra distance would suit.
The Aidan O'Brien trained Tuesday, victor of the Epsom Oaks (G1) in June, looks to have an excellent chance. Following her win in the British Classic, she started favourite in the Irish Derby and finished fourth before a second behind the heroine of the Grand Prix de St-Cloud (G1) Alpinista (one of the favourites for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1)) when she won the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) last month.
From the older horses, Sweet Lady ran a bold race in the Grand Prix de St-Cloud (G1) finishing fourth following a G2 victory in May. Two other British trained horses that could run well are Lilac Road and Albaflora.
The Prix Foy (G2) is also run over 2400m and, as usual, will have a small but select field. It is a contest restricted to four-year-olds and above. For many years, this event was not a strong form-line trial to find the Arc winner, however three years ago in 2019 André Fabre changed all that when Waldgeist completed the double.
The Australian champion race-mare Verry Elleegant has accepted for this race, opting for this event ahead of running in the Prix Vermeille. She disappointed on her European debut finishing last in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) at Deauville. The smaller field this Sunday along with the vast expanses of Longchamp plus having a known front-runner, Mutabahi, engaged should suit her.
Bubble Gift is the horse to beat in the race. He won the three-year-old equivalent Arc trial race last year (Prix Niel) before going on to finish fifth in the Arc. All three races this year have been over 2400m and he has run well in each. Last start he finished third in the Grand Prix de St-Cloud where he was beaten 1.5L behind Alpinista.
The final 'Arc Trial' is the Prix Niel (G2) again over 2400m for the three-year-olds with the last start Japanese 2400m G1 winner Do Deuce adding an international flavour to the event. He arrives with strong form credentials and is a last start winner at the end of May of the Tokyo Yushun (G1) over 2400m. French trained Simca Mille has been a progressive revelation in France throughout summer winning three in succession up to 2400m including a G3 before a neck second in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1). L'Astronome and True Testament are also highly progressive colts. The last horse to complete the 'Niel-Arc' double was Rail Link in 2006.
There will be three other Group races on the card plus a very competitive 1400m handicap.
Will this years' Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner be amongst the starters on Sunday?
