'I believe we'd have won it this year' - ambitious Arc plan for Princess Zoe

Princess Zoe may have landed the Group 1 Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend in dramatic fashion, but trainer Tony Mullins believes the mare has sufficient pace to be effective over a shorter trip in the Prix de l'Arc Triomphe and rues the decision not to run in last season's Qatar-backed prize.

The Paddy Kehoe and Philomena Crampton-owned five-year-old, who started her time in Ireland with a mark of 64 last June, looks set for an ambitious campaign, with Mullins dreaming of a tilt at the 2021 Arc.

"I don't know if there's many who agree with me, but I believe we'd have won it [the Arc] this year if I had the guts to go for it," he said of the 66-1 shot for next year's Arc.

"I thought I was stepping up hugely in grade as it was in the Cadran and when it was suggested to me I thought it was crazy, but now I don't. I'd have loved to have run in the Arc."

Connections ruled out a hurdles campaign after that memorable day in Paris under Joey Sheridan, but the German-bred daughter of Jukebox Jury has returned to training earlier than expected, with Mullins now contemplating starting her season in a 1m7f handicap worth $2.5 million on the undercard of the Saudi Cup at Riyadh.

"We had let her off and intended to give her a good rest, but she hated it," explained Mullins. "She was in bad form and started to kick at us and everything, but she's really back to herself now after a week and a half of being back in. She's like myself – she just loves hard work!"

Princess Zoe: could be heading back to Longchamp in 2021Credit: Edward Whitaker

He added of the potential Middle Eastern bid: "If we were guaranteed good ground I would take it very seriously, but good to firm is different with a whole season ahead of us. We'd definitely consider it if we were guaranteed good ground. Travelling to Saudi is an outside chance."

Should the trip to Saudi Arabia be bypassed, Mullins has plenty of other options, and said: "We have our eye on possibly an April start, potentially at the Curragh in the Rogers [Tattersalls Gold Cup]. It's only over a mile and a quarter, but the timing of it might suit.

"If not, we'll look towards the Vintage Crop Stakes. Hopefully, she'll then show her wellbeing to go on to the Gold Cup at Ascot.

"That would tell us then where we're going for the autumn – I still have my eye on the Arc. People might think I'm crazy and if my big dream doesn't work out, we still have the Prix du Cadran to point towards."

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