Arc possible Ghaiyyath impresses Buick with classy comeback success

Prix du Prix d'Orange (Group 3)

One-time Derby hopeful Ghaiyyath made immediate amends for an absence stretching back to last season's Autumn Stakes when galloping his rivals into the ground at Longchamp on Saturday under William Buick.

Godolphin's son of Dubawi sat in behind stablemate Stage Magic before powering clear in the straight, with Sacred Life the only horse to give serious chase.

"It was a lovely comeback run," said Buick. "It was a nice race to aim at and everything went according to plan. He's a very strong galloper, a strong traveller, and has all the attributes to turn into a good horse."

The Prince d'Orange is often seen as a the last-chance-saloon for three-year-olds with Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe aspirations and was the race Intello won en route to finishing third behind Treve and Orfevre a fortnight later in a red-hot 2013 edition of Europe's richest race.

Ghaiyyath holds an entry in the Arc, as well as the Qipco Champion Stakes two weeks later, a race for which he is now priced at between 8-1 and 16-1.

Asked if this ten-furlong trip was his optimum, Buick added: "I'd be very happy at this distance for now, that would be my assessment."

With trainer Charlie Appleby travelling back from Australia, his assistant Alex Merriam added: "We hoped he might go for the Dante and then the Derby but he suffered a little setback. It was nothing too serious but kept him off the course for a while, and this race has been the plan for some time."

Chilean looked dangerous before fading to be a distant fourth in the straight, while the previously unbeaten Willie John was under pressure early in the straight and failed to land a blow.

My Sister Nat sets up foreign raid

Prix Bertrand de Tarragon (Group 3)

Francis Graffard could look to the US for My Sister Nat after the Acclamation filly opened her Group-race account when defeating Awesometank and Shahnaza.

"We've always thought a lot of her and I was a little disappointed to be beaten last time in the Prix de la Nonette," said Graffard, who trains My Sister Nat for the Teboul family.

My Sister Nat (red silks, green sleeves) battles Castellar in the closing stages of the Shadwell Prix de la Nonette last monthCredit: Patrick McCann

"She's a good-ground filly and the track at Deauville was somewhat cut up. The rain had got into the track a little but she has real acceleration and we really wanted to win a Group race with her."

My Sister Nat is a half-sister to last year's Prix de Diane runner-up Sistercharlie, who has since made a big impression at Grade 1 level in the US.

"We'll have try our luck now at Group 1 level and we'll probably look at the EP Taylor in Canada or else the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Keeneland, though she'll need an invitation for that," added Graffard.

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