The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting begins at ParisLongchamp with the Prix du Cadran serving as the day’s headline event. Aidan O’Brien’s elite stayer, Scandinavia, heads a field of ten runners as he aims to secure his sixth Group 1 victory. The horse arrives in formidable form, having remained unbeaten across his past eight starts and capturing five top-level races in that span. He is expected to handle the increased distance required for this contest.
Stablemate Queenstown, ridden by Wayne Lordan, is poised to provide the stiffest challenge. After returning to winning ways in a Group 3 race at the Curragh in August, Queenstown finished behind Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger. Having placed third in this race last year, he remains a strong contender for the frame.
In the Prix de Royallieu, also scheduled for 3:25 pm, Francis-Henri Graffard’s filly Sunly will compete for a maiden Group 1 success under jockey Christophe Soumillon. Graffard opted against targeting the Arc in favor of this contest, and Sunly is favored to excel if she can stay the additional distance. She faces a tough rivalry from Waardah, who won the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on her previous start, and Consent, who claimed this race last season.
George Scott’s Caballo De Mar, the defending champion, cannot be dismissed after a comfortable victory in the Doncaster Cup. Meanwhile, at Ascot, Thunder Call and Mezcala are the horses to watch in the BetMGM Challenge Cup. Thunder Call handled a step up to seven furlongs impressively last month, while Mezcala has been dropped in weight following a sixth-place finish at Doncaster.
At ParisLongchamp, Pierre Bonnard makes his return in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay after faltering in the St Leger. Trained by William Haggas, he was only beaten two lengths by Arc hopeful Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur. Elsewhere on the card, Wimbledon Hawkeye and Phineas clash in the Group 2 Prix Dollar, while Victoire Magique seeks a hat-trick under Amy Murphy.
Domestically, John and Thady Gosden’s So Regal is the pick for the BetMGM British EBF October Stakes at Ascot. Secret History is considered the main threat in the five-furlong Rous Stakes, where Tuco Salamanca and Regional will duel. At Fontwell and Southell, fifteen races are scheduled across jumps and flat courses.
Internationally, the day opens with three Group 1 contests in Australia, including the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington featuring Sir Delius and Aeliana. In North America, Mandanaba returns to Grade 1 company in the First Lady Stakes, while American History makes his second start in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. The action concludes with the Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, where Lake Forest represents Haggas, and the Canadian International at Woodbine.
Is it really guaranteed? Eight unbeaten starts is rare but Paris can be tricky for stayers.
Queenstown is the one to beat. Lordan knows Scandinavia well and he’ll ride smartly.