The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting gets underway on Saturday with Aidan O'Brien's outstanding stayer Scandinavia leading the charge in the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp. The four-year-old is the standout performer on Day 1 of the prestigious fixture, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing.
Scandinavia arrives at the 4,000-metre contest with an exceptional recent record. The gelding has not tasted defeat in his last eight outings, during which he has accumulated an impressive five Group 1 victories. According to Racing Post, the field comprises 10 runners with Scandinavia quoted at 8/15 in the betting forecast, reflecting his status as the clear favourite.
The step up in distance appears unlikely to trouble O'Brien's prolific winner, who has demonstrated his versatility throughout a stellar campaign. His credentials for victory look formidable on paper, though he will face genuine opposition in a competitive lineup.
O'Brien saddles a second runner in the shape of Queenstown, who will be ridden by Wayne Lordan. The stablemate returned to action with an encouraging Group 3 success at the Curragh in August before finishing second to Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger. Queenstown finished third in this race twelve months ago and represents a genuine threat to the favourite, with every chance of securing a placing once more.
George Scott's Caballo De Mar cannot be dismissed from calculations. The defending champion bounced back to winning form with a convincing victory in the Doncaster Cup and retains the form to trouble the principals. Double Major rounds out the main contenders and appeals as an interesting proposition at bigger odds.
Sunly and Waardah clash in Prix de Royallieu
The 3.25 race sees two classy fillies lock horns in the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu, where Sunly and Waardah headline a field of 11 runners.
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard opted to bypass the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in favour of this contest, sending Sunly to post under Christophe Soumillon. The filly is expected to command short odds in her pursuit of a maiden Group 1 success, with the extra yardage potentially playing to her strengths and allowing her to dominate a field that may lack her class.
Waardah arrives fresh from a decisive victory in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, where she defeated Consent and Cameo. The performance suggests she possesses the credentials to step up in grade and mount a serious challenge here.
Consent, who won this race last season, has been progressing steadily through the autumn. She finished fourth at Goodwood before running third at Doncaster, with each outing suggesting she is moving in the right direction. Ribblesdale winner Earth Shot provides additional depth to what shapes as a stellar renewal and merits consideration for each-way punters.
Thunder Call and Mezcala lead Ascot Challenge Cup
At Ascot, the 3.35 BetMGM Challenge Cup features a typically competitive field of 18 runners, with Thunder Call and Mezcala among the fancied runners.
William Haggas's Thunder Call demonstrated his readiness for seven furlongs when he easily defeated a quality field over this course and distance last month. Despite drawing stall one, which presents a tricky proposition, the gelding should have further improvement to come and remains a leading contender.
Jack Channon saddles Mezcala, who captured the Buckingham Palace Stakes over this trip and track at Royal Ascot. The gelding has been dropped 1lb following a sixth-place finish at Doncaster and retains winning chances in a competitive contest.
Hickory appeals as a course specialist with genuine place prospects, while George Boughey's Moonfall caught the eye at Doncaster last time after winning the Britannia at Ascot. However, the gelding must prove he can handle the drop back to seven furlongs. According to Racing TV, Moonfall ultimately finished ahead of Thunder Call in the race, with Aalto completing the frame in third.
Pierre Bonnard seeks St Leger redemption
Having disappointed in the St Leger last time out, Pierre Bonnard will be looking to bounce back when he contests the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp at 12.23pm on Saturday.
The son of Camelot demonstrated his class when finishing only two lengths behind Arc hopeful Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur, establishing himself as the standout performer in this field. Space Waltz represents the formidable Fabre operation and provides the main threat, while Amy Murphy saddles hat-trick-seeking Victoire Magique.
Wimbledon Hawkeye and Phineas clash in Prix Dollar
The subsequent Group 2 Prix Dollar sees Wimbledon Hawkeye and Phineas go head-to-head. Wimbledon Hawkeye arguably deserved better fortune when narrowly denied in the Irish Champion Stakes last time, while Phineas has won four consecutive races and appears to be developing into a real talent for the Fabre operation. Distant Storm represents Charlie Appleby and Godolphin following a recent success at Deauville.
The 4.35pm Prix Daniel Wildenstein features Quddwah among the runners, with Fallen Angel and 2025 Sussex Stakes winner Qirat providing opposition.
Domestic action at Ascot
The John and Thady Gosden-trained So Regal emerges as the pick of the field for Ascot's 1.15pm BetMGM British EBF October Stakes, having run with credit in Group 3 company when last seen. Secret History, a three-time winner, could pose the chief threat despite failing to run to her optimum level in a competitive York handicap in August.
Tuco Salamanca and Regional clash in the five-furlong BetMGM Rous Stakes at 1.50pm, before crowd favourite Al Aasy faces five rivals in the 2.25pm BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes. The hardy individual demonstrated real tenacity when defeating Chestnut Rocket at Deauville, with the latter now set to contest Sunday's Arc.
Prince Of India takes on Division in the 3pm John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes, with Division favoured in the market following a narrow defeat to Samangan in France recently.
Fontwell and Southwell stage action over jumps and on the Flat, with 15 races scheduled across the two venues.
International racing from Australia and North America
The day begins with three Group 1 contests from Australia, with Sir Delius and Aeliana involved in Flemington's 7.25am Turnball Stakes following top clashes from Randwick earlier in the morning.
Across the Atlantic, Francis-Henri Graffard's Mandanaba, a Grade 2 runner-up earlier in the campaign, eyes a return to the winners' enclosure in the 9.44pm First Lady Stakes. Classic Q is partnered with John Velazquez for this step up to Grade 1 company, while Mark Casse saddles stablemate And One More Time, who seeks a hat-trick.
Todd Pletcher's American History made a stunning debut impression when bolting up by eight lengths and returns to action in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, a Grade 1 for two-year-olds. According to Racing Post, the Prix du Cadran represents one of the day's marquee events at ParisLongchamp.
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 this contest, with Cieren Fallon booked to ride.
