Serpentine and Stradivarius lead all-star cast on Arc trials Sunday at Longchamp
Shock Derby hero Serpentine could make his first start since his Epsom heroics in the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris on Sunday.
The son of Galileo has not been seen since his five-and-a-half length Classic success and could be joined at Longchamp by Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemates Mogul, Tiger Moth and Nobel Prize.
Serpentine is a top-priced 6-4 favourite for the Grand Prix with William Hill and a 20-1 shot for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for which he would need to be supplemented.
O'Brien has won Sunday's race for the past two seasons with Kew Gardens and Japan, but those came when the race was staged in its usual slot in July.
English King is the only British-trained member of the 11 potential runners, as the impressive Lingfield Derby Trial winner looks to bounce back from two defeats. German Derby winner In Swoop and impressive Group 2 winner Port Guillaume are other interesting runners.
The other Group 1 of the day, the Qatar Prix Vermeille features Magical, Dame Malliot and Irish Oaks winner Even So among the leading contenders.
Raabihah – whom trainer Jean-Claude Rouget believes is a major Arc contender – looks to make her mark on the top level after bouncing back from her French Oaks fourth with an impressive Group 3 success.
Roger Varian could run Gold Wand, winner at the Ebor festival last month, while the Irish challenge is strengthened by Tarnawa for trainer Dermot Weld.
Stradivarius appears set to take on last year's Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck as he continues his preparation for the Arc in the Qatar Prix Foy.
Bjorn Nielsen's outstanding stayer is a top-priced 14-1 shot for the Arc following an impressive campaign, in which he captured the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot by ten lengths and battled bravely to defend the Goodwood Cup.
Stradivarius finished two and a half lengths behind Anthony Van Dyck when they clashed with Ghaiyyath in the Coronation Cup at the start of the season.
Way To Paris, Skyward, Nagano Gold and Ziyad could also line up in the Group 2 event.
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Published on 9 September 2020inInternational
Last updated 18:23, 9 September 2020
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