Scandinavia takes on Queenstown and Caballo De Mar as Arc weekend gets underway – live on Sky Sports Racing.
4.00 ParisLongchamp – Star stayer Scandinavia bids for a sixth Group 1 success
Superstar stayer Scandinavia is the headline act on Day 1 of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting. Aidan O’Brien’s prolific winner heads a field of 10 for this Prix du Cadran.
He arrives unbeaten in his past eight starts recording a staggering five Group 1 wins in the process and looks hard to oppose as he heads up in distance once again.
Stablemate Queenstown, the ride of Wayne Lordan, heads the likely dangers. He returned with an excellent victory in Group 3 company at the Curragh in August before chasing home Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger. Third in this race last year, he could hit the frame once more.
George Scott’s defending champion Caballo De Mar cannot be ruled out after bouncing back to form with a comfortable success in the Doncaster Cup, while Double Major is the pick of the bigger prices.
3.25 ParisLongchamp – Top fillies Sunly and Waardah lock horns
Classy pair Sunly and Wardaah headline a field of 11 for this Group 1 Prix de Royallieu.
Francis-Henri Graffard skipped the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in favour of this contest and his charge Sunly will be a short price to land a maiden top-level success under Christophe Soumillon. She could outclass her rivals if staying this extra yardage.
Wardaah took the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on her last start, beating Consent and Cameo in the process and looks ready for a crack at this better grade.
Waardah tasted success at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting
Consent saw off Santorini Star to land this race last season and, after finishing fourth at Goodwood and third at Doncaster, she seems to be progressing with each outing.
Ribblesdale winner Earth Shot is another who makes each-way appeal in a stellar field.
3.35 Ascot – Thunder Call and Mezcala headline 18 runners
A typically competitive edition of the BetMGM Challenge Cup where Thunder Call and Mezcala will be fancied in a field of 18.
The William Haggas-trained Thunder Call handled the step up to seven furlongs when easily disposing of a good field over this course and distance last month and should have more to give despite a tricky draw in stall one.
Jack Channon saddles Mezcala, who landed the Buckingham Palace Stakes over this trip and track at the Royal meeting and has been dropped 1lb for his latest sixth at Doncaster.
Several have place chances including course specialist Hickory, while George Boughey’s Moonfall took the Britannia here, caught the eye at Doncaster last time, but must prove he can handle to dip to seven furlongs.
Also at ParisLongchamp…
Having faltered in the St Leger last time out, Pierre Bonnard will be looking to bonce back when he goes to post for the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at 12.23pm. The son of Camelot was only beaten two lengths by Arc hopeful Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur and looks the class act of the field. In opposition, Space Waltz represents the formidable Fabre team while Amy Murphy saddles the hat-trick-seeking Victoire Magique.
Pierre Bonnard returns on Saturday afternoon
Wimbledon Hawkeye and Phineas clash in the subsequent Group 2 Prix Dollar, with the former horse arguably unlucky to have been denied in the Irish Champion Stakes last time. Phineas has won four on the spin and looks to be a real talent for the Fabre operation, while Distant Storm represents Charlie Appleby and Godolphin once more after success at Deauville last time.
Quddwah tops the runners assembled for the 4.35pm Prix Daniel Wildenstein, while Fallen Angel and 2025 Sussex Stakes winner Qirat line up to take him on.
Domestically…
The John and Thady Gosden-trained So Regal looks the pick of the runners declared for Ascot’s 1.15pm BetMGM British EBF October Stakes, having ran with credit in Group 3 company when last seen. Of the others, three-time winner Secret History could be the chief threat, despite not running to her optimum level in a competitive York handicap in August.
Tuco Salamanca and Regional lock horns in the five-furlong BetMGM Rous Stakes (1.50pm) before crowd favourite Al Aasy faces five rivals in the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25pm). A hardy individual, he showed real tenacity to defeat Chestnut Rocket – who lines up in Sunday’s Arc – at Deauville when last seen.
It’s Prince Of India versus Division in the 3pm John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes, with the latter favourite in the market after being narrowly beaten by Samangan in France recently.
Fontwell and Southwell open their gates for action over jumps and on the Flat, with 15 races scheduled between them.
Internationally…
The day begins with three Group 1 contests from Australia, with Sir Delius and Aeliana involved in Flemington’s 7.25am Turnball Stakes after top clashes from Randwick earlier in the morning.
A Grade 2 runner-up earlier in the campaign, Francis-Henri Graffard’s Mandanaba eyes a return to the winners’ enclosure when she contests the 9.44pm First Lady Stakes. Classic Q is partnered with John Velazquez for this step up to Grade 1 company here, while stablemate And One More Time seeks a hat-trick for Mark Casse.
American History looked to have the makings of a real star when bolting up on debut by eight lengths. Todd Pletcher’s charge returns to action in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity – a Grade 1 for two-year-olds.
Purview takes on Ancient Egypt in the Grade 1 Canadian International from Woodbine before attention switches back to the United States and Keeneland’s Coolmore Turf Mile. Lake Forest flies the flag for the Haggas stable in here, with Cieren Fallon booked to ride.