Savarin and Ecrivain lay down markers for Arc day juvenile crowns

The two Group 3s which opened the card act as the main trials in France for the pair of Group 1s that begin proceedings back at Longchamp on Arc day in a month's time.

In Ecrivain and Savarin the two winners have put themselves in pole position as far as the home defence is concerned for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the Prix Marcel Boussac respectively.

Savarin continues to live up to her stellar breeding and the daughter of Deep Impact and Prix de Diane heroine Sarafina is now two from two after a cosy success in the Prix d'Aumale for Andre Fabre and owner Masaaki Matsushima.

Pierre-Charles Boudot once again did the steering but that may change if Fabre elects to go for the Boussac on a day when Yutaka Take will be in town to ride Broome in the Arc for the same owner.

"She confirmed the good opinion we hold of her and now she'll need to go up another rung or two on the ladder," said Patrick Barbe, representing Matsushima. "Nothing is been decided but the Boussac is the logical next step and Pierre-Charles said there was more gas left under the pedal.

"Monsieur Matsushima does everything to have horses who can run in the best races and, when possible, ridden by his great friend Yutaka Take, who won the Prix du Moulin for Monsieur Fabre many years ago with Ski Paradise."

Ecrivain avoided the tardy start which almost blighted his winning debut at Deauville and once again produced a sustained finishing effort to run down stablemate Hopeful in the Prix des Chenes, with the Charlie Appleby-trained Al Dabaran back in third.

"It's vital if you have a good horse you think is right for the Lagardere that you give them experience of Longchamp and that they are given the right lessons," said Carlos Laffon-Parias. "The day he made his debut he didn't understand what he was doing but today he was much more professional and he'll now follow the logic of the programme."

One horse who won't be heading for Arc weekend is Called To The Bar, who comfortably retained his crown in the Prix Gladiateur but who will wait for the Prix Royal-Oak at the end of October rather than step back up to two and a half miles for the Prix du Cadran.

"I thought he would stay 4,000 metres in the Gold Cup but it was very soft there and that's what found him out," said Pia Brandt. "I will keep him back for the Royal-Oak [over two miles]."

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