the last foal of wonder mare Shastye sells for 1million gns at the #tattsoctober Book 1!

This colt is by Dubawi and is a half-brother to G1 winners Japan & Mogul. He has been bought by Godolphin and was consigned by @newsellspark. pic.twitter.com/I6caDzHHLs

— TDN (@theTDN) October 3, 2023

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“He ran well at Saratoga. He was a little unlucky that he didn't get out, but he ran a really good race,” Comerford said. “He stays well. He actually seems to be getting better. He seems to be coming back to his old self, which is good. He's a Juddmonte winner at York and that was his last Group 1.”

The full-brother to MG1SW Mogul was runner-up in his most recent start in the GI Sword Dancer S. Aug. 28. At three, he won the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp and York's G1 Juddmonte International. Winless in five starts at four, he kicked off his 5-year-old campaign winning the G3 Ormonde S. May 13 at Chester before capturing the G3 Green Room Meld S. July 15 at Leopardstown.

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“He's in cracking form and we're super excited, so fingers crossed,” trainer Ed Walker said. “Everything has gone very well since the July Cup. On his last piece of work, I think he's improving, dare I say it.”

Wesley Ward is already off the mark at the meeting with Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) and it is another Stonestreet Stables representative who offers stern opposition to the British talisman in Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who was awarded the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time June 18.

“She's there and in good shape and Frankie (Dettori) is riding, so there are no worries,” said Ward. “I think there are a lot of showers around and that is going to suit Campanelle just fine.”

Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) stays further than this and showed last time when winning Goodwood's G2 Lennox July 27 that he handles the soft. That is not so much the case with Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was runner-up to Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the July 11 G1 Prix Jean Prat here.

“The better the ground, the better his chance,” trainer Joseph O'Brien commented. “We were thrilled to see Thunder Moon get back on track in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville last time, as his first two runs of the season had been very disappointing. The drop in trip seemed to help him and he was only just touched off by Laws of Indices. This even shorter trip should be fine for him and the less testing ground will definitely be in his favour, as we considered taking him out of the Prix Jean Prat on account of the softening ground.”

There are only three home-trained runners and the pick seems to be Jean-Claude Seroul's winning machine Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Having won the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp May 30 and July 1, the homebred switches to a straight track but trainer Jerome Reynier is happy it will not hinder his chances.

“He has won seven in a row and was tried over a straight course back in April at Chantilly and handled it well,” he explained. “Six and a half furlongs is a bit of a long trip for the sprinters, but he has won over seven and I think he's got a good chance. This is the logical next step and we're looking forward to it. It's a pretty good race and it will be good to try him against this sort of opposition. If we can step up onto the podium, we will be delighted.”

At The Curragh, the G1 the Keeneland Phoenix S. sees the June 26 G2 Railway S. first, second and fourth Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) renew rivalry. The former, who was previously second in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot June 17, has to do it on softer ground this time but trainer David Loughnane is not overly concerned.

“With the weather forecast, the ground is probably going to be a bit softer than we would like it to be but he has won on soft ground previously so provided he turns up and gets out of bed on the right side, I think he should take all the beating,” he said. “On paper, we certainly look the one to beat but there's every chance something else in the race could have taken a big step forward since the Railway. We're going there confident, but we're well aware Group 1s are not easily won.”

Fozzy Stack is happy to re-engage with Craig Bernick and Antony Beck's May 22 G3 Marble Hill S. winner Castle Star and is hoping the predicted change in conditions might level the playing ground. “He obviously handled slower ground and it might upset one or two of the others, so I wouldn't mind a drop of rain,” he said. Peter Brant's 'TDN Rising Star' Dr Zempf was the most in need of the experience in the Railway and should have improved for the run, while Aidan O'Brien who has won this a record 16 times has the filly Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) as his main challenger but she needs to fare better than when fourth in the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown July 22.

The third Group 1 of the day comes at Hoppegarten, with the Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin attracting Kirsten Rausing's July 3 G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Godolphin's Mar. 6 G2 Dubai City of Gold scorer Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) as they encounter the July 4 G1 Deutsches Derby third Imi (Ger) (Tertullian). Back at Deauville, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the star act in the 12 1/2-furlong G3 OSAF Prix de Reux as he looks to get his 4-year-old campaign on track and extend Aidan O'Brien's stellar record in France in 2021.

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Godolphin's Adayar is not the only 3-year-old in the field, as G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby second Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also steps forward for Martyn Meade.

Rounding out the nine are the globetrotting Group 1 winners Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) from the William Haggas yard, John and Thady Gosden trainee Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

“I talked to John after Mishriff worked on Saturday and John was very happy with him,” said Ted Voute, racing manager for Prince Faisal on the $20-million Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic scorer. “It has very much been left up to John where he runs next and, having discussed it with the Prince, Ascot looks the likely target.

“We want to win a Group 1 in England with Mishriff and you can't win one unless you run in them. He has beaten some very good horses from around the world and now is the time to see what he can do against the big battalions from England and Ireland in particular.”

The progressive dual Group 1-winning filly Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) for David Menuisier. A notable absentee is G1 Coronation Cup victor Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) who suffered a setback.

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“The plan at the moment is that we're looking at running Love in the King George,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said from The Curragh. “Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) are also there, but Love is the most likely to run. Something else could run but I'm not sure just yet. Everything has gone well with her since Ascot.”

Another Coolmore partners-owned dual Classic winner, St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a possible starter in for the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York on Aug. 18 and the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 11. The colt won the G1 French 2000 Guineas and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club earlier this year before winning the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown on July 3.

Added O'Brien, “”The lads haven't really decided yet what they want to do but York and Leopardstown would certainly be races we'll be looking at. We'll probably know more in another week where we are going.”

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“Everything is good with Love,” said O'Brien. “She's wintered well and has been ready to run for a while now. There were some Group 3s at The Curragh and places like that we would have liked to start her off in, but the ground was bad so we didn't, which is why Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) filled those slots in.

“She's ready to go. We could have ended up in the Coronation if we'd had a run, but we didn't, so we're thinking about Ascot with her for the Prince of Wales's. She did a half-speed this morning and looked very happy in herself, so we're very happy.

“She should be nice and fresh for the second half of the year. The Arc has always been on her radar, but in an ideal world I don't think we'd like to run her in bad ground, so it would depend on the weather at the time of the year.”

Despite the absence of the filly, O'Brien will still have the Galileo (Ire) full-brothers and MG1SWs Japan (GB), who won the G1 Grand Prix de Paris in 2019 and 2020 Grand Prix de Paris victor Mogul (GB) in the Coronation Cup. The former saluted in the G3 Ormonde S. at Chester on May 6.

“We're very happy with Japan,” added O'Brien. “We started him short [over a mile and a quarter] last year and we think maybe it was too much pressure on him too early and his season kind of fell to bits after that.

“We decided to start over longer this year. Ryan [Moore] thought it would suit him and the trip would help him get happy and relaxed and enjoy it, and we were delighted with his run in Chester. We think he's progressed from the run. Mentally and physically we think he's in a very good place.”

“At the moment we're thinking of running the two brothers,” O'Brien added. “I spoke to Ryan this morning and I'm not sure which he's going to ride–he mightn't be sure even himself yet.”

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O'Brien is aware of the task at hand and it is significant that the team have resisted unveiling the half-sister to the Breeders' Cup-winning Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) in public in 2021 until this moment. “It is only her second run and she'll be running down Newmarket on quickish ground. She will be green, so it will be interesting to see how she copes with it,” he said. “Either way you'd imagine she'll learn a lot from it and it will do her absolutely no harm.” Re-affirming the huge regard in which she is held, he added ominously for the opposition, “She always looked very special last year. Of all the two-year-old fillies, she was always at the top of the pecking order and on her home work she was always very impressive and very exceptional.”

“She's a very strong traveller and a big, powerful filly–through her work and through a race,” the master of Ballydoyle continued. “If she'd had another run, it might have been an advantage to her, but she's a quick learner at home and very intelligent. No matter what we work her with, she always looks to be dominating them. She doesn't know her odds, she only knows she's getting ready for a race. Everyone will be excited to see what happens when she does come off the bridle. This is a Guineas and it's going to happen at some point.”

Ryan Moore had a note of caution to sound as he pondered the prospect of partnering such a raw filly in a race of this stature. “I would say straight away that I don't think a mile on quick ground is going to see her at her very best on Sunday,” he said. “I expect her to improve through the season as she steps up in trip and her draw in one could make life interesting, but we clearly anticipate her running very well in what maybe isn't the strongest 1000 Guineas we have seen in recent years, especially with Pretty Gorgeous a late withdrawal.”

If Santa Barbara is not all that, this edition has been thrown wide-open with some notable defections of late and it could be that the major seven-furlong trial protagonists can benefit. In the Apr. 14 G3 Nell Gwyn S. here, Cheveley Park Stud's experienced Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) cut down the previously unbeaten Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) while Jeff Smith's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) dealt with Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in Newbury's G3 Fred Darling S. Apr. 18. Both winners were up from sprint trips and that is an angle that has proven successful only rarely in this race down the years, bar the exceptions Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}), Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}) and Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) in recent times.

Sacred's case of seeing out the trip may be more persuasive than Alcohol Free, with her dam being a half to Lady Eli (Divine Park) but there is no escaping that she is by a speed-influence sire. Jockey Tom Marquand, who did not ride her in the Nell Gwyn, was pleased with what he saw there. “It looked like she had done well for the winter under her belt and that she had grown and strengthened up plenty,” he said. “She relaxed beautifully the other day and that will give her more of a chance of staying the mile, but we won't truly know until the day. She was competitive in every assignment last year and finished second three times at Group 2 level, where she was unlucky one or two times but she has improved even more than we imagined. Most horses that go from two to three disappoint you, but Sacred appears to have done the opposite.” Trainer William Haggas added, “She seems to have made a step forward and if she relaxes and gets into a good rhythm and stays, she's got a chance. She's got quick ground, which is important to her but none of us know what Aidan's is like so we'll see.”

Oisin Murphy resumes his partnership with Alcohol Free and he said, “I rode her on Wednesday when she went four furlongs with Bounce the Blues and she feels very well in herself. She's finally come in her coat, we just need her to stay happy and healthy between now and Sunday. I was pleased with the way she did it at Newbury because I made her come back and wait and go through the gears, whereas over six we just let her roll on. The big question is will she stay and I'm pretty confident she will. She's a jockey's dream in a race, at home she can be a nightmare.”

Saffron Beach has no stamina concerns and this first try at a mile is almost certain to bring out improvement in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner despite her family featuring the sprinter Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) while Ballydoyle's second-string Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) kept upgrading her profile last term. The opposite of her much-vaunted stablemate, she rounded off an industrious campaign with a third in the course-and-distance G1 Fillies' Mile and a runner-up finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and is no back-number on that evidence.

Dahlia Ready For Picking…

Newmarket's card also includes the G2 Betfair Dahlia S., in which last year's runner-up Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) is pitched against the Apr. 5 Listed Snowdrop Fillies' S. one-two Lavender's Blue (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Fooraat (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' A'Shaari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) tackles the Listed Betfair Pretty Polly S., a recognised Oaks trial which has played host to Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The full-sister to Wuheida (GB) has contrasting ground to that she encountered when impressing on her sole start on the July Course here in August, but she has to prove her versatility with the Epsom Classic looming.

ParisLongchamp Hosts Ganay Card…

At ParisLongchamp, another major part of the Ballydoyle machine is in action in the G1 Prix Ganay in 'TDN Rising Star' Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who has had a trip to Dubai and run in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic to sharpen him for his European campaign. A lack of pace might be the sticking point for the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Hong Kong Vase hero, who meets Godolphin's still-unexposed 6-year-old Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro). He ran with such credit when third in the Mar. 27 G1 Dubai World Cup and represents the Andre Fabre stable which boasts a record six wins in this prestigious affair. Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said, “Magny Cours appears to have recovered very well from his trip to Dubai. He is a horse who we are hoping to have a bit of fun with this year and we are delighted to see him back running in Europe. He is in good form at the moment and we are hoping for another good performance at this level.”

In the G3 Prix Allez France Longines, Shadwell's Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) embarks on her 4-year-old campaign having established herself among the elite last term. Fourth in a blanket finish to Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane and fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe here, the homebred was also second to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix Vermeille over the Arc course and distance and successful in Deauville's G3 Prix de Psyche. All that background gives her a clear gap over her rivals here, with The Aga Khan's G2 Prix de Pomone winner Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) needing further than this 10-furlong trip.

At Cologne, the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin heroine Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) is back in the G3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann over a mile where she encounters Jean-Pierre Dubois' exciting Sea Shepherd (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), an Andreas Wohler-trained half-sister to the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) who looked to have a bright future when scoring over this trip at Hanover in October.

Click here for the group fields.

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Stateside, the filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) improved to 122, as she narrowly bested the 124-ranked GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GI Preakness S. on Oct. 3. Mo Forza (Uncle Mo) is also a new addition to the rankings with a mark of 120 after his win in the GII City of Hope Mile S. For the full list of rankings, go to www.ifhaonline.org.

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Twelve months ago, the bay with more than a just quantity of Northern Dancer-Sadler’s Wells-Galileo blood was denied the improbable hat-trick by a combination of factors. Similarly wet ground and a peaking Fabre project in Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) robbed her of the ultimate accolade and a year on the obstacles are both the same and different. While the going cannot be used as an excuse for a daughter of the easy-ground specialist Nathaniel who boasts two King Georges, an Arc and a Yorkshire Oaks on a surface softer than good, there is always the possibility of a dormant threat among the opposition.

Frankie is aware of the obstacles in the way of the mare who is so close to his heart. “For me, if I can win the third Arc, it is all for her. I will work hard to try to achieve that for her as I want her to be remembered as one of the all-time greats,” he explained. “She can only be called that if she wins a third Arc. She came so close last year and we will now roll the dice again. I actually don’t feel as nervous, as last year we were going for three in a row. Now that she has been beaten in the race last year, it takes a bit of pressure off. She has stayed in training for one reason and one reason only, and that is for a third win in the Arc.”

“She picked up a third King George along the way which was great, as that was another record, and I think John has got Enable in the best condition he can. I think we have her where we want her,” her rider added. “There is a lot of rain forecast at the moment and it depends how much we get. For sure it will be soft and it could be the extreme of very soft. That would put stamina into the equation and Stradivarius could come into the picture. He bolted up in the Ascot Gold Cup on soft ground and he is doing really well at the moment, so he would be a big threat which we have to respect. Enable is in a good frame of mind, though. She is aggressive at home, which is always a good sign with her. She seems in a good place.”

John Gosden added, “She travelled fine and everything has been fine. It’s just a shame about the ground. She prefers the easy side of good, so she can show her class, but it is going to be a bit of a slog. It is drying up now and it is tacky, but you might get another shower or two. It is Longchamp, by the River Seine–it is deep. We’re here and we’re trying. Let’s hope she gets a great run round and if she wins, marvellous, if she doesn’t, she couldn’t have done more for racing. These great racemares, they give everyone so much pleasure to see and race.”

(The quartet of Ballydoyle Arc runners were withdrawn late Saturday evening due to contaminated feed.)

As easy as it is to imagine a scenario where Frankie has time to glance around at the furlong pole as she careers towards impressive victory, the mind’s eye can also envisage a decisive home-straight surge from the likes of the aptly-named In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Western Europe’s weather is currently so dire it could come down to a question of who can swim and the G1 Deutsches Derby hero certainly can. Or can Enable’s comrade Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) with all those Wildenstein staying genes come through as he did in his sensational 10-length G1 Gold Cup success? Just as Enable’s campaigning had led to this juncture, so Bjorn Nielsen’s elite stayer seems to have been steered in this direction with fateful accuracy. Left out of the Arc picture until this year, the best of his kind since Ardross (Ire) who went so close in 1982 has not taken the easy option but can it pay off? As Robert Frost penned, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

“Enable’s got a pal in there called Stradivarius and he’s a similar, wonderful, consistent performer at Group 1 level. It’s a pleasure to have them both there,” Gosden said. “If he handles the ground, he will run a big race. Frankie has called me and said it’s pretty desperate ground, so I’m going to go to the inside but there are three races before us. May the best horse win, whoever it is.”

Then there is the Fabre factor, with the inclusion of Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) so leftfield it is almost too bizarre to ignore. Andre is the undisputed King of the Arc and he continues to defy the perceived “knowledge” well into his seventies. Few who witnessed the highly-talented 4-year-old’s powerplay in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp over a mile could have foreseen a tilt at this great stamina test, but when it comes to the master of Chantilly we all bend. No doubt he has seen something in the conditioning of Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbreds’ imposing bay that makes this a gamble worth taking. The very fact that he is here is confirmation of where the race still stands in the pantheon of monuments globally. Of the nine French-trained winners since the turn of the millennium, Fabre was responsible for a trio and he is generally the first port of call when it comes to home pride. Persian King also has the assistance of “PC” in the saddle and last year’s Arc weekend demonstrated just what an advantage that can be.

Domestic hopes also reside with Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) from Southern France’s guru Jean-Claude Rouget and the former has vital experience of combat in this particular arena. Toughing it out when third as a still raw 3-year-old in the mud last year, Peter Brant’s flag-bearer has just 1 1/4 lengths to make up on Enable from 2019. It is worth bearing in mind that Waldgeist was beaten further by her in 2018 before emerging stronger a year on to reverse the form. If he is successful, Sottsass will be the first winner of the “new” G1 Prix du Jockey Club to prevail in this since its distance was diminished to 10 1/2 furlongs in 2005. He is the stable’s number one, with Shadwell’s Raabihah untried on ground slower than good-to-soft and needing a significant upgrade on her latest second in the course-and-distance G1 Prix Vermeille Sept. 13.

“I’m of the opinion that Sottsass is on much better terms with himself at this stage of the season,” Rouget commented. “This year, I haven’t managed to get him in the same condition as he is in now, owing to a racing calendar which has been perturbed by the pandemic. However, neither have I wished to go overboard, so as to ensure that that he’s a fresh horse come the Arc, which has always been his objective. Raabihah is similarly in peak condition. Our only question mark is the ground. This isn’t in the sense that she would be inconvenienced by a heavy track–we simply don’t know, because she has yet to tackle very soft conditions.”

ParisLongchamp’s card kicks off with the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, where Marie McCartan’s Jun3 20 G2 Coventry S. winner and Aug. 23 G1 Prix Morny runner-up Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) steps up to seven furlongs for the first time. Now that Ballydoyle’s St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has been withdrawn, the Clive Cox runner faces an easier task and his trainer commented, “I’m very pleased, because he is in excellent form and it gives me confidence knowing that he will handle the conditions–that is a great plus, given the weather forecast.”

French representation had looked weak there and only slightly better among the fillies assembled for the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac before the O’Brien defections, but with John Oxley’s Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) now scratched France’s main contender King’s Harlequin (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) comes firmly into the equation. Racing in the Sangster silks, she has to turn around the form of her defeat when third to Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) in the G2 Prix du Calvados over seven furlongs at Deauville Aug. 22. Fev Rover’s syndicate manager Nick Bradley said, “She’s in serious form at home. I spoke to Richard [Fahey] on Friday morning and she’s a lot more professional than when Ben [Curtis] last rode her at Sandown.” King’s Harlequin at least has course-and-distance winning form, having subsequently beaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) in the Sept. 10 G3 Prix d’Aumale. The latter was bought on Saturday evening for €400,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale by Haras du Saubouas on behalf of Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah.

The G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines is another race to lose out due to the O’Brien withdrawals, with the fascinating rematch between the July 5 G1 Prix de Diane one-two Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) now shelved with the former’s trainer Donnacha forced to bypass the contest. The Niarchos Family’s G1 Coronation S. heroine Alpine Star has since run Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) to 3/4 of a length when runner-up in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois on heavy going at Deauville Aug. 16 and will relish the step back up in trip. Not that the Opera was a two-horse race, as one of the best renewals of recent times also sees Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s unbeaten June 14 G1 Prix Saint Alary and Aug. 22 G2 Prix de la Nonette winner Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) line up alongside The Aga Khan’s impressive Prix Vermeille heroine Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal). Tawkeel’s trainer Jean-Claude Rouget said, “She doesn’t share that characteristic that has bedevilled other members of the same family that I’ve trained, in the sense that they’ve made flying starts to their career which they haven’t backed up,” he said. “She, on the contrary, has done nothing but progress and each time she has astonished me.”

Alongside Love, the card is also missing another celebrity due to the ground in Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who was understandably removed from the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines picture having flopped when 14th in similar conditions 12 months ago. Impressive when successful on that occasion, Bearstone Stud’s Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) was back to winning ways in The Curragh’s G1 Flying Five Sept. 13 and on the face of it might only have to reproduce that form to bring up back-to-back successes. “It was soft ground last year and she won it well,” jockey Tom Eaves said. “She has come out of Ireland well and we are looking forward to Sunday. She’s in good form and came to herself at this time last year.” This is far from a strong edition of the five-furlong sprint and the Flying Five runner-up Keep Busy (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and fifth Make a Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) look the most realistic threats.

Where the Abbaye lacks depth, there is a fascinating renewal of the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret to bring the top-level action to a close as Godolphin’s Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) returns to the course and distance of his easy win in the Sept. 13 G3 Prix du Pin. Not out of second gear when beating the fellow Andre Fabre-trained Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), last year’s G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner has come off worse in the draw than the winner of the last two renewals of this, One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). “Earthlight is in the best form he has been in all year,” Andre Fabre said. “Mickael commented after his last piece of work that he feels better than ever, both mentally and physically. He is a laid-back horse, but with a devastating turn of foot and I am hopeful of a very good run here. My only concerns are around the level of form of the 3-year-olds this year.”

At home on easy ground, Lael Stable’s One Master looks as good as ever, but was 3 1/2-lengths second to Ross Harmon’s Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) in the Aug. 22 G2 City of York S. and there is no obvious reason for her to reverse that. Safe Voyage, who also acts on deep ground, has since won Leopardstown’s G2 Boomerang Mile Sept. 12 and has the extra stamina that may be a prized asset in these conditions.

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Sottsass, who was third last year, is bidding to fulfil a long-held ambition of owner Peter Brant who said, “I can only say of any race in the world, I would most like to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, mostly because it’s kind of the European championship in many ways. He’s won on all different kinds of grounds–soft and firm. I think he broke the track record for the French Derby and he won impressively beating Persian King, who’s proven himself to be a very good horse. It’s a very good field and I think he’s an excellent horse. I think Jean-Claude Rouget has really pointed the horse to this race and as he does many times, he picks a spot that he’s going to run to. He’s a very sound horse, I don’t think he’s been overtrained or undertrained and I think he goes to the race well. Last year the grass was a bit new and it wasn’t a really good course to run on. I think Enable suffered running on that course, but there were great horses in the race and it was a great race.”

Gestut Schlenderhan’s G1 Deutsches Derby hero In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}), who has been the subject of a gamble after the ground turned testing, is drawn in one and bids to become the first winner from that rail draw since Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) in 2008. Showing the same dramatic surge of acceleration to be second in the Sept. 13 G1 Grand Prix de Paris as he had when taking the July 12 Hamburg Classic, the lightly-raced homebred was reported in rude health by trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “His whole family–as well as his sire–adored soft conditions, so hopefully he isn’t a complete outlier,” he told the Racing Post. “There was some cut in the ground at Lyon when he ran there in June and he ran well. He had his final gallop on Monday morning on a very soft track and it didn’t bother him, so I don’t expect it to be a problem. He needed the run last time and has come forward plenty since then. I’m very happy with the shape he’s in.” Jockey Ronan Thomas also told the Post, “The Grand Prix de Paris was a very interesting race, as it brought together the various form lines of all the European Derbys. He’s a big horse and wasn’t completely comfortable coming down the hill on fast ground, but once he found his stride he finished in quite remarkable fashion, especially in the final 200 metres. In his work so far, he hasn’t struggled with soft ground and he has remained very well-balanced, while his action is more fluid than on quick ground.”

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