ParisLongchamp takes centre stage on Sunday with two Group One contests and several leading Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe contenders appearing on one of the most important afternoons of the French racing season.
The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1, 1600m) brings together an accomplished group of European milers, while the Prix Vermeille (G1, 2400m) offers a valuable opportunity for the leading fillies and mares to force their way into the Arc picture.
The nine-race programme also features the Prix Niel (G2, 2400m) and Prix Foy (G2, 2400m), with the three traditional middle-distance trials staged over the same course and distance as next month’s €5 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
France Galop has moved the trials four weeks before the Arc, giving horses additional recovery time before returning to ParisLongchamp on October 4. Winners of the three trials also receive a wildcard into the Arc, including the waiver of the €120,000 supplementary fee if they are not already entered.
Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad will attempt to establish himself as Europe’s leading active miler when he contests the €800,000 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
The three-year-old has spent much of the season in the shadow of the recently retired Bow Echo, finishing runner-up to George Boughey’s star in the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes.
However, the son of Starspangledbanner secured his own Classic success with an impressive victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.
He was forced to miss the Prix Jacques le Marois after suffering a cut, but that setback appears to have been minor and he is now ready to return against older horses at ParisLongchamp.
Victory would give O’Brien a third success in the race following Rock Of Gibraltar in 2002 and Circus Maximus in 2019.
Godolphin provides two major dangers through Opera Ballo and Notable Speech.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Opera Ballo won the Jebel Hatta (G1) at Meydan earlier in the season before finishing third behind Bow Echo and Gstaad at Goodwood.
He was only narrowly in front of Ten Bob Tony on that occasion, with the shock Queen Anne Stakes winner also remaining in contention for Sunday’s feature.
Notable Speech, meanwhile, returned to winning form when producing a powerful late finish in the City of York Stakes (G1) last month.
The five-time Group One winner has built an outstanding international record, with major victories in Britain, Canada and the United States. His previous visit to ParisLongchamp ended in disappointment when he failed to handle testing ground in the 2024 Moulin, making conditions an important consideration once again.
Zeus Olympios adds further strength to the international challenge after going close in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
The Karl Burke-trained four-year-old finished only a neck behind French Guineas winner Rayif, producing one of the best performances of his career.
His earlier victory in the Summer Mile (G2) at Ascot showed his effectiveness around a right-handed bend, while his prominent racing style could prove valuable on the ParisLongchamp circuit.
France’s leading hope could be the progressive Erdenali, who steps into Group One company for the first time.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the Aga Khan-owned three-year-old won his first three starts, including the Prix de Saint-Patrick, before finishing third in the Prix Messidor (G3) at Deauville.
Connections felt he was unlucky not to win on that occasion and have decided to test him at the highest level rather than seek an easier Group race.
“He was really unlucky and should have won,” Aga Khan Studs racing manager Nemone Routh said.
“We will really find out where he stands at this level in such a high-quality field and it will help us decide what comes next.”
Expanded, Native Warrior, Dreamliner and Nighttime complete the ten horses remaining at the latest forfeit stage.
The Prix Vermeille appears far more open, with Sparan Nua and Sunly sharing the early market lead.
Trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger, Sparan Nua produced the best performance of her career when pushing Kalpana to a short head in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1).
Although she has been beaten in each of her past three starts, the three-year-old has continued to progress and that York performance places her among the leading contenders.
She does not currently hold an Arc entry, but victory on Sunday would provide connections with the option of adding her to the field without paying the €120,000 supplementary fee.
Sunly represents the powerful Graffard stable and already holds an entry for the Arc.
The daughter of Sottsass finished third against the older horses in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) and now returns to her own sex in search of a first victory at the highest level.
Graffard could also be represented by Rabbit’s Foot, while Pink Panthera brings Classic form after finishing runner-up in the Prix de Diane.
German Oaks runner-up Lapotheose is another with Arc ambitions and is one of only two likely runners, along with Sunly, already entered for next month’s feature.
British interest is strengthened by Survie, who is set to return to France for trainer George Boughey.
The Group One winner had been expected to head directly to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but her recent work has encouraged connections to give her another opportunity in Europe.
She is no stranger to the race, having finished fourth behind Aventure in last year’s Vermeille when trained in France.
Aventure subsequently defeated Diamond Necklace in last month’s Prix Jean Romanet, form which is particularly relevant to the wider Arc picture.
O’Brien had considered using the Vermeille as the next step for Diamond Necklace, but instead elected to give his French Guineas, French Oaks and Nassau Stakes winner more time following her surprise Deauville defeat.
“We thought if we went to the Prix Vermeille over a mile and a half and she had a hard race, and we decided to go to the Arc, it could come a little bit too quick for her,” O’Brien said.
“She’s going to have a good, long run into either race and I think she should be fitter and tighter than she was going to Deauville.”
Diamond Necklace will instead be prepared for Arc weekend, when she could contest either the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or the Prix de l’Opera.
Tattycoram, Botagoz, Habibi, Sugar Island, Beautify, Composing and Euboa are among the other fillies and mares remaining in the Vermeille.
While the two Group One races provide the headline attractions, considerable attention will also surround Benvenuto Cellini in the Prix Niel.
Dramatically declared a non-runner after finishing down the field as favourite in the Derby, the Frankel colt quickly put that episode behind him by winning the Irish Derby three weeks later.
He then performed with credit against older horses in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, finishing third behind Kalpana and Calandagan.
Only two lengths separated him from the winner and he now returns to his own age group following a midsummer break.
“Benvenuto goes to France for the Prix Niel and he could then go for the Arc if the ground was nice,” O’Brien said.
“If not, he’d obviously miss there and go on to the Breeders’ Cup, with Hong Kong and stuff like that in mind.”
The home defence includes Varandir, Alam and Pearled Majesty, while defending Arc champion Daryz makes his eagerly awaited return in the Prix Foy.
With two Group One races and several significant Arc trials, Sunday’s programme should provide important clues ahead of Europe’s premier middle-distance contest four weeks later.
