Verry intriguing Arc candidate emerges in shape of star Australian mare

Round three of Verry Elleegant’s clash with Addeybb may have been delayed by seven days, but ahead of the rearranged Ranvet Stakes connections of the 12-time winner already have their eyes on further battles with some of Europe’s best.

Part-owner Brae Sokolski harbours ambitions for the mare to head to France and tackle the Prix de le Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, and he revealed on Monday that the rest of the ownership group are warning to the idea.

"They are lofty ambitions we have for her on the global stage, but the time will be absolutely right for her,” Sokolski told Racing.com.

“She’ll be a six-year-old mare at the peak of her powers going to her best distance and likely on a suitable wet surface.

"There is a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get there [Europe] because it is not a well-worn path we will be taking. It’s something we’ve got to put into action ourselves to create our own path and, while that makes it more challenging, it is also more exciting."

The possibility of Verry Elleegant turning up in Paris for the first Sunday in October has not gone unnoticed by British and Irish bookmakers, and she is quoted at between 33-1 and 66-1 for Europe's most valuable prize.

Early ante-post market leaders, at a best-priced 10-1, are Love and Tarnawa, both of whom might have contested the race last year but didn't, for reasons of unsuitable ground - a contaminated feed issue subsequently beset Aidan O'Brien's intended runners anyway - and the alternative of the Prix de l'Opera respectively.

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