Brown Panther (far right) was a close third in the Irish St Leger
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)British trio face Group 1 test in Royal-Oak
Preview: France, Sunday (2.45pm GMT)
Longchamp: Prix Royal-Oak (Group 1) 1m7½f, 3yo+
QUIZ MISTRESS (Hughie Morrison/Umberto Rispoli) bids to succeed 2011 winner Be Fabulous in coming on from the Listed Scaramouche to claim glory in Longchamp's final Group 1 of the season.
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"It's a huge step up in class but, it's the end of the season, she won last time, so why not have a go?" reasoned Morrison, who claimed a famous victory with ten-year-old Alcazar in the 2005 edition.
Quiz Mistress is joined by Brown Panther (Tom Dascombe/Richard Kingscote), who came within a quarter length of opening his Group 1 account in the Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger.
A strong British challenge is completed by Hurricane Higgins (Mark Johnston/Joe Fanning), who's fine third in the Stobart Donaster Cup gives him sound claims.
All three raiders will be forced to dig deep, should the classy Dalkala (Alain de Royer-Dupre/Christophe Lemaire) handle the extra three furlongs after out-battling Morrison's talented Shirocco Star in the Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend.
Connections also boast an excellent second string in Verema (Royer-Dupre/Maxime Guyon), who would be suited by any drying in the forecast holding ground.
"Verema is a serious horse but she's better when the ground isn't too heavy," said Royer-Dupre. "If we got a lot more rain she wouldn't run. Dalkhala is a good filly and goes on anything."
Miss Lago (Elie Lellouche/Gregory Benoist) finished second to Be Fabulous last season and will be dangerous if reproducing the form of her narrow defeat in the Prix Gladiateur in September.
Les Beaufs (Valerie Seignoux/Julien Guillechon) could provide a fairytale success for his small stable. Seignoux has only been training privately for her husband for two years and was saddling her first Group runner on the Flat, when Les Beaufs was caught close home by Canticum in the Prix Chaudenay.
Also on Sunday (1.30pm GMT)
Longchamp: Criterium de Vitesse (Listed) 5f, 2yo
Richard Fahey and Elaine Burke will both attempt to keep the prize in Britain following Stepper Point's spectacular performance in the 2011 edition.
Strange Magic (Fahey/Frederick Tylicki) comes here a week after landing a novice event on soft ground at Catterick.
Disko Dasko (Elaine Burke/Richard Kingscote) makes also turns out just eight days after finishing third to Sorry Woman at Croise Laroche in Northern France.
Such has been the dominance of British-trained juveniles in French races over sprint distances this season that neither filly can be discounted.
However, The Brothers War (Jean-Claude Rouget/Maxime Guyon) has looked a cut above his six rivals in amassing two stylish wins from four starts and, on the evidence of his recent stroll at Chantilly, will relish a first start over the minimum distance.
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