Adayar heads straight to Arc after hind leg infection rules out Niel bid

Derby and King George winner Adayar will head straight to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 3 after an infection in a hind leg ruled him out of Sunday's Prix Niel at Longchamp.

Adayar landed the Epsom Classic under Adam Kirby in June and was partnered by William Buick when following up in Ascot's midsummer highlight, in which he defeated subsequent Juddmonte International winner Mishriff by a length and three-quarters.

The Prix Niel had been targeted as a warm-up to the Arc, but Adayar will now have his first start outside of Britain in the big race itself, for which he drifted to 9-2 second-favourite (from 7-2) with Paddy Power on Tuesday. Star filly Snowfall heads the betting at a general 9-4.

Arc entries

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "Adayar missed a couple of days and after discussions we felt there was no need to press on to a trial [for the Arc]. So, the decision was made to head straight to the Arc.

“He has resumed full training, and as a Derby and King George winner he fully deserves to be running in what's shaping up to be a vintage Arc.”

More immediately, Appleby will chase further Classic success on Saturday with odds-on Cazoo St Leger favourite Hurricane Lane, and is confident the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris winner will stay the 1m6½f trip at Doncaster on Saturday, describing him as “the class horse in the field”.

Godolphin’s last success in racing’s oldest Classic came with the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Encke in 2012 and Hurricane Lane, seeking a hat-trick of top-level wins, heads the betting at a general 4-6.

Appleby said: “Stepping up in trip is the big question for all of the runners, but in his case I think he'll stay the extra two furlongs.

“He goes into the Leger with rock-solid form. He’s been beaten only once when he finished third in the Derby and lost two shoes. We feel there’s enough evidence there to say he'll stay and he’s the class horse in the field.

“When he went to Epsom in June he was unbeaten in three starts and relatively inexperienced. That was his undoing on the day. But what we've seen since is a much sharper model. He’s mentally stronger and more mature, and is ready for this.

“William [Buick] rode him in a good piece of work last Wednesday, ten days out from the Leger, and he was delighted. He looked great and moved well. He’s been doing routine work since and continues to please.”

Hurricane Lane is likely to join Adayar in the Arc next month if in good order after Doncaster, with Appleby adding: "We're lucky to have two very good middle-distance horses, and if both are fit and well we'll run the pair of them in the Arc."

Native Trail: will bid for a third National Stakes success in four years for Charlie ApplebyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Superlative Stakes scorer Native Trail is entered in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday and the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, with Appleby preferring to run the unbeaten colt in the Group 1 in Ireland.

Quorto and Pinatubo were successful in the race for the stable in 2018 and 2019 and Native Trail, a 200,000gns breeze-up purchase, is unbeaten after following up an impressive debut win at Sandown with victory in the Newmarket Group 2.

Appleby said: “Native Trail’s prep has gone well. It has always been the plan to progress from the Superlative to the National Stakes – it’s a well-trodden path for ourselves.”

Master Of The Seas (near): second to Poetic Flare in the 2,000 Guineas on his last startCredit: Edward Whitaker

Master Of The Seas, not sighted since finishing runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas, will return in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket on September 24 following a setback, with the QEII Stakes at Ascot and Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar among late-season options.

Great Voltigeur winner Yibir will miss Sunday’s Irish St Leger in favour of a tilt at the $1 million Jockey Club Derby at Belmont on Saturday week, where he will be joined by stablemate Creative Flair in the Jockey Club Oaks.

The international theme continues for Appleby next Saturday with Walton Street set to contest the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine, while juveniles Wild Beauty and Albahr are being aimed at the Natalma Stakes and Summer Stakes – ‘win and you’re in’ races for the Breeders’ Cup in November.

Read more . . .

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