Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) featured a list of 19 at Tuesday’s
six-day stage, and the connections of NATHANIEL (Galileo [Ire]) cast doubts on
the long-planned supplementing of their star three-year-old colt. With a dry and
unseasonably warm forecast leading up to the Longchamp showpiece, Lady
Rothschild’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1) hero looks unlikely
to be added at a fee of €100,000 during Wednesday’s window.
“If he’s going to run, he’ll have to be supplemented on Thursday, but we’re
monitoring the weather,” trainer John Gosden’s Racing Secretary Peter Shoemark
told PA Sport.
Gosden may still be represented by last year’s St Leger (Eng-G1) winner
ARCTIC COSMOS (North Light [Ire]), who has not been seen since that Doncaster
classic.
“He’s been left in at this stage,” Shoemark added. “We want to have a look at
it. He’s in the Arc and also in the Cumberland Lodge S. (Eng-G3) at Ascot on
Saturday, so, hopefully, he runs somewhere this weekend.”
Whether Nathaniel lines up or not, the King George form is set to be
represented by last year’s Arc victor WORKFORCE (GB) (King’s Best), last seen
finishing runner-up in that July 23 Ascot feature; and also by June 3 Coronation
Cup (Eng-G1) winner ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (Montjeu [Ire]), who was third at Ascot.
The latter is one of six from Ballydoyle alongside SO YOU THINK (High Chaparral
[Ire]). That globe-trotting star will be re-opposed by SNOW FAIRY (Intikhab)
after the pair filled the first two places in the September 3 Irish Champion S.
(Ire-G1) at Leopardstown.
His Highness The Aga Khan has the two fillies SARAFINA (Refuse To Bend [Ire])
and SHARETA (Sinndar) engaged. Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is responsible for
both, as well as the June 5 Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) and September 11 Prix
Niel (Fr-G2) victor RELIABLE MAN (Dalakhani). Freddie Head is set to saddle the
Wertheimers’ September 11 Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) heroine GALIKOVA (Anabaa)
Japan are set to have their usual representation via HIRUNO D’AMOUR
(Manhattan Cafe) and NAKAYAMA FESTA (Stay Gold). They were second and fourth,
respectively, in their warm-up in the course-and-distance Prix Foy (Fr-G2)
September 11, and the latter will be bidding to go one better than when second
in this highlight 12 months ago.
Godolphin have left in last year’s Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) winner
CASAMENTO (Shamardal), but Racing Manager Simon Crisford announced, “Casamento
is not an intended runner in Paris.”
A statement from governing body France Galop read Tuesday: “Taking account of
the prevailing weather forecast for the week of warm weather, light winds and no
foreseeable rain, a watering plan has been put in place. Final regulation of the
ground will take place on the night of Thursday into Friday, with the aim of
producing good ground for the weekend. The official forecast, as provided on
Monday evening, is for temperatures of 24 degrees centigrade on Tuesday, rising
to 26 for Wednesday and Thursday.”