'She can go up another gear' - Minnie Hauk hardens as Arc favourite after Aidan O'Brien gives star filly green light

After weeks of market uncertainty the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe market has taken a more decisive turn with the confirmation that triple Group 1 winner Minnie Hauk is to be supplemented on Wednesday. 

The Coolmore hierarchy went to the effort of getting Christophe Soumillon over last week to become acquainted with the winner of the Oaks and its Chester, Curragh and York equivalents, and will pay the €120,000 late entry fee.

Having begun the week bigger with most firms, Minnie Hauk is now 7-2 with all but William Hill and Coral, who are still holding out at 4-1. 

Since Zarkava broke a 15-year drought in 2008, the Arc has become a happy hunting ground for fillies, who have landed ten of the last 17 runnings. 

In 2008 Zarkava inaugurated a sequence of Arc success for fillies and mares after a 15-year droughtCredit: Edward Whitaker

Minnie Hauk will bid to add her name to those of Zarkava, Danedream, Treve and Enable as an Arc-winning three-year-old filly and Aidan O'Brien pointed to not only the weight advantage but the time of year as playing an important role in those trends. 

"This filly looks like a progressive three-year-old and everyone says that type of filly has a good chance in the Arc," said O'Brien during a France Galop press conference on Tuesday.

"We haven’t overraced her, we’ve given her a lot of time between her runs and all that has slowly helped her to progress. She’s run in lovely races all the way along and she’s not had too hard a time, at least going into the autumn."

He added: "With a three-year-old filly they can progress into another gear at this time of year. They’re slowly turning into four-year-olds so it’s going to be interesting. We’re as fascinated as everyone else to see which way it falls.

Aidan O'Brien and joint-owner Michael Tabor with Christophe Soumillon after Delacroix had won the Irish Champion Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"We’re very happy with her. She’s done everything we’ve asked from her since York. Christophe sat on her during the week, that was his first time on her and he was very happy with her. He did a nice half-speed piece of work on her last Wednesday and it seemed to go well." 

O'Brien said there was no plan to add any further runners to the race, meaning Whirl will head to the 1m2f Prix de l'Opera and last year's third Los Angeles will be his only other runner in the Arc, with Wayne Lordan set to ride. 

"We’re very happy with Los Angeles's work since [the Prix Foy], he seems in very good form," O'Brien said. "We felt that maybe he was a week behind last time and two weeks behind for his first run back and we think he’s nearly caught up. We’re very happy with what he’s doing and there’s still a few days to go. We couldn’t be happier with him."

Los Angeles (14) chases home Bluestocking in last season's ArcCredit: Alan Crowhurst

When O'Brien was asked if he had difficulty imagining Los Angeles successfully conceding 10lb in weight-for-age and sex allowances to Minnie Hauk, he replied: "I’m never surprised, anything can happen in a race and there are so many variables that you have no control over. 

"They’ve never worked together and have had two totally different preparations. It will be interesting. She does look a very good filly at the moment and he looks like a horse who is slowly progressing back to his best."

O'Brien added: "All we can do is try and have them at their best, hope they get clean runs and everything goes well for them. The acid test is when you go and run."

O'Brien saddled the first three home when Found became his second Arc winner nine years ago, that success itself coming nine years after Dylan Thomas gave him his first win in the race. The Coolmore partners also struck in 2005 with the Andre Fabre-trained Hurricane Run.

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05 Longchamp, Sunday)
William Hill: 4 Minnie Hauk, 9-2 Aventure, 8 Byzantine Dream, Croix Du Nord, 12 Kalpana, Sosie, 14 Gezora, 16 bar.

Read more on Arc weekend:

'She was unbelievable in the Diane' - Francis Graffard calls up Tom Marquand for Arc ride and has high hopes for his trio 

'I was absolutely shocked' - €300,000 Prix du Cadran tempts David Menuisier in after attracting just three confirmations 

Oisin Murphy gets big Arc weekend call-up to ride Victorious Forever hope who is 'still a fresh horse' 

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