Minnie Hauk scoring the Yorkshire Oaks. (photo is courtesy of York Racecourse)
Qatar Prix De L’arc De Triomphe
Europe’s Richest Race One of Six Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Events Oct. 5 at Paris Longchamp
Breeders’ Cup Release
PARIS – Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor’s triple Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk (IRE) will take on Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) winner Aventure (IRE) in a fascinating renewal of the €5 million (US$ 5.5 million) Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Sunday. A quality field of 17 will go to post in the 104th running of the 1 1/2-mile event, with the winner earning an automatic berth into the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Minnie Hauk Looks to Complete Stellar 3-Year-Old Campaign
Minnie Hauk, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was supplemented to the Arc earlier this week for a cost of €120,000. After just two starts as a 2-year-old, the daughter of Frankel (GB) has gone from strength to strength this year, winning a hat-trick of Group 1 races in the Betfred Oaks (G1), Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1), and Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks (G1).
Ahead of the race, O’Brien commented on the prospect of Minnie Hauk attempting to crown what has been the perfect campaign so far.
“This filly looks like a progressive 3-year-old and everyone says that type of filly has a good chance in the Arc,” he said. “With a 3-year-old filly they can progress into another gear at this time of year. They’re slowly turning into 4-year-olds so it’s going to be interesting. We’re as fascinated as everyone else to see which way it falls.”
Minnie Hauk’s chief rival looks to be Wertheimer & Frere’s Aventure. Christopher Head’s filly will hope to go one place better than she did when second to Bluestocking (IRE) in last year’s renewal of this race. She warmed up for this nicely when a comfortable 1 1/2-length winner of the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) which also represented a first run back after three months away from the track.
Connections will also be represented by Sosie (IRE), who was sent off favorite for this race last year and finished fourth. Andre Fabre’s colt arrives here off the back of a second-placed finish to Byzantine Dream (JPN) in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2).
The aforementioned Byzantine Dream is looking to finally to become the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), but has been given a draw of stall 15. Oisin Murphy takes the ride.
The Francis Henri-Graffard-trained Daryz (FR) steps up to the distance for the first time. The 3-year-old colt will have no problem with the soft ground. Juddmonte’s Kalpana (GB) had been the ante-post market leader of this race for a long time before being beaten in her prep race last month. Her conqueror from that day,Giavellotto (IRE), reopposes again this Sunday on what will be his first career start in France.
Croix Du Nord (JPN), Cualificar (GB), Alohi Alii (JPN), Quisisana (FR), Los Angeles (IRE), Leffard (FR), White Birch (GB), Arrow Eagle (FR), and Hotazhell (GB) complete the field.
Strong European Challenge in Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
The Godolphin-owned Time to Turn (GB) and Paul and Clare Rooney’s A Bit of Spirit (IRE) will renew their rivalry in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Stakes (G1). The former got the better of A Bit of Spiritby a head in the Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes (Listed) at Ascot in July and the duo will likely be hard to split once again. The winner of the 7-furlong contest will gain an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith’s Puerto Rico (IRE) recorded a career-best when leading his rivals from pillar to post to land the Betfred Champagne Stakes (G2) at Doncaster by 1 length last month.
Aga Khan Studs SCEA are doubly represented courtesy of the unbeaten Rayif (IRE) and stablemate Vardif (FR). Wertheimer & Frere’s Nighttime (FR) will not be inconvenienced by the testing conditions, having won his last two starts on soft ground.
Diamond Necklace Leads Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches
Aidan O’Brien is one win away from becoming the winningest trainer of the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1). His unbeaten Diamond Necklace (IRE) has looked a potentially top-class filly in her two starts so far and heads a field of nine. The winner of the 1-mile contest will gain an automatic berth into the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Aidan O’Brien has also declared Venosa, who will likely be used as a pacemaker for her better-fancied stablemate once again. Al Shaqab Racing & Amo Racing’s Aylin (IRE) has seen the form of her Betfred May Hill Stakes (G2) win boosted after Timeforshowcasing (GB) subsequently came out and won the British EBF £100,000 2YO Fillies’ Series Final.
The Wertheimer & Frere-owned duo ofGreen Spirit and Ozone (FR) have yet to taste defeat themselves. The former represents a yard which has won this with the talented Blue Rose Cen (IRE) in 2022.
Globe trotting Asfoora Leads 19 in Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines
Noor Elaine Farm Pty Ltd.’s Asfoora (AUS) is aiming to create history this Sunday by becoming the first-Australian-trained winner of the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1). Henry Dwyer’s 7-year-old mare has already won two European Group 1 contests undoubtedly be her greatest achievement yet. The winner of the 5-furlong contest will gain an automatic berth into the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), which Afoora already accomplished when she won the Coolmore Wooton Basset Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.
Henry Dwyer, trainer of Asfoora, said: “Oisin was very positive about her work, and we think all the signs are good, so why not give the Abbaye a go? No Australian-trained horse has ever won in France. Starcraft won, having been transferred to Luca Cumani, and Strawberry Road and Balmerino ran well in the Arc but there’s never been a winner, so that would be a good box to tick.”
Andrew Balding Looks For First Win In Prix De l’Opera Longines
Jeff Smith’s See The Fire (GB) was a breathtaking winner of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (G2) at York in May but hasn’t quite been able to replicate that same level of performance in three subsequent starts. She is one of 12 to be declared for the Prix de l’Opera Longines (G1) on Sunday. The winner of the 1 1/4-mile contest will gain an automatic berth into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Aidan O’Brien has declared just the one runner, January (IRE), who has been placed three times this season, most notably finishing second to Fallen Angel (GB) in the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville in August. Quantum Leap Racing’s Tamfana (GER) has not been seen since a below-par run in May, finishing at the rear of the field in the BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes (G1), but looked a progressive filly for trainer David Menuisier prior to that lackluster performance and has been very lightly raced this season with just two starts.
Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway (IRE) is a consistent typeand posted a career-best last time out when runner-up to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe favorite Minnie Hauk.
Improving More Thunder Aiming to Secure Haggas Another Foret
Saaed Suhail’s More Thunder (IRE) took the step up to Group company in stride when a comfortable winner of the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (G2) last time out. He steps up to Group 1 company for the first time this weekend and is one of 16 to be declared for the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) on Sunday. The winner of the 7-furlong contest will gain an automatic berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
Francis Henri-Graffard has declared his talented 3-year-old filly Zarigana (GB). The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) winner was last seen when finishing a half-length second at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes (G1). She has questions to answer around how genuine she is after wilting under pressure on her previous two starts.
Prince A A Faisal’s Sajir (IRE) bounced back to winning ways in emphatic fashion last time to secure a first career Group 1 win in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) at Deauville. His trainer, Andre Fabre, last won this with the popular Make Believe (GB) in 2015.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines to start in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, the winner of the Qatar Prix de la Foret to start in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile, the winner of the Prix de l’Opera Longines to start in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the winner of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, the winner of the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere to start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and the winner of the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac to start in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
