Arc undercard wrap: Puerto Rico is pointed to Breeders’ Cup

Coolmore, trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Christophe Soumillon won both races for 2-year-olds Sunday when Puerto Rico scored a 2 1/2-length, gate-to-wire victory at 7-2 odds in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère for colts and fillies, one of the five Group 1 races run on the Arc day undercard at ParisLongchamp.

The Lagardère was a win-and-you’re-in race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and O’Brien said the invitation was likely to be accepted by Coolmore ownership.

“The lads were thinking of the Breeders’ Cup, and they asked about ground, but Christophe said ground and trip would be no problem,” O’Brien said. “I’d say he definitely could be one for the Juvenile Turf.”

The late stallion Wootton Bassett sired both the winner and runner-up Nighttime, ridden by Maxime Guyon for trainer Christopher Head. Rayif finished third.

The winning time on the very soft course was 1:21.53 for the 1,400 meters, nine yards less than seven furlongs.

Soumillon was filling in for Ryan Moore, O’Brien’s first-call rider who is on the mend from a broken leg.

Diamond Necklace takes Marcel Boussac

Last year Diamond Necklace was one of the stars of the Arqana yearling sales in Deauville, fetching US$2 million. Bought by Coolmore, she delivered Sunday as the 11-10 favorite in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) for 2-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Soumillon for O’Brien, the daughter of St Mark’s Basilica had to go around several rivals and, racing four wide down the center of the track, produced a long, sustained run to take command 100 yards from the finish line. Green Spirit finished a clear second, one length back. Narissa, still last entering the straight, finished with a terrific burst to snatch third place from Esna.

The winning time was 1:41.31 for the 1,600 meters, 10 yards short of a mile.

The Boussac was an automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Maranoa Charlie’s win could lead to Del Mar

True to his usual style, Maranoa Charlie made his own pace, leading from gate to wire to capture the Prix de la Forêt (G1) over seven tricky furlongs.

For his young Chantilly-based trainer Christopher Head, it marked a second consecutive win in the race following Ramatuelle’s triumph last year. A visit to Del Mar on Nov. 1 for the Breeders’ Cup Mile could be next.

“We’ll talk with his owner (Charlie Bond) about the next step,” Head said. “He could be tried over further since he’s shown he can settle behind a lead and finish strongly, but I’m not sure he’ll get the chance. He’s got the profile to win over a mile in the U.S. as he breaks sharply and has great cruising speed. But we’ll have to see what a Breeders’ Cup victory for instance could bring to his future as a stallion.”

Bond was not committing himself to California just yet. He did commit Maranoa Charlie, a 3-year-old Wootton Bassett colt, to racing next year.

“The stud duties can wait,” Bond said. “There’s been a lot of excitement before the race, so I’ll probably switch my phone off tonight and see what awaits us tomorrow morning regarding his future.”

Aurélien Lemaitre rode Maranoa Charlie to the 1 1/4-length win over Aga Khan Studs filly Zarigana. Ten Bob Tony took third.

The winning time was 1:20.80 for the 1,400 meters, nine yards less than a full seven furlongs.

Barnavara could go to U.S. after Opéra win

Trailblazing trainer Jessica Harrington sent Ireland-based Barnavara to race for the first time in France. It paid off with a short-neck victory in the Prix de l’Opéra (G1), a 1 1/4-mile test for fillies and mares.

The 3-year-old daughter of Calyx has plenty of options, including an automatic invitation to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

“At the end of each 3-year-old season, the Alpha Syndicate normally sells its horses, so she could be sold at the December session," said assistant Kate Harrington, the trainer's daughter. "She won today, and that gives her an automatic ticket to the Breeders’ Cup. There’s also an option in Japan. She’s also entered in the Bahrain Trophy (G2), which offers a very nice prize money ($1 million on Nov. 14). She’s constantly improving, so we’ll let the pressure off after today and see how it goes.”

Coming off an impressive victory in the Blandford (G2) over the same distance at the Curragh, Barnavara quickly took the lead Sunday, setting a solid pace for her rivals. Keen yet well balanced, she maintained her advantage down the straight despite repeated challenges from her pursuers.

See the Fire finished second, and One Look was third. The final time was 2:05.52 for the 2,000 meters, 13 yards short of 1 1/4 miles.

Asfoora sprints to win for Australia

The connections of Australia champion Asfoora hesitated before deciding between running in Ireland’s Flying Five (G1) on Sept. 14 and the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) in Paris.

They made the right call. The 7-year-old Flying Artie mare cruised home a winner in the 1,000-meter sprint in France.

Patiently ridden under cover in fifth place along the rail, Asfoora was switched out at the decisive moment by Oisín Murphy and swept past Jawwal, who had seemed on his way to a half-length victory. She’s Quality finished third.

The final time was 56.39 seconds for distance that was six fewer yards than five furlongs.

Winning trainer Henry Dwyer said Asfoora arrived at ParisLongchamp without her passport, which had been left behind an hour north at Chantilly.

“Fortunately, (trainer) Francis Graffard’s assistant went back to the yard, gave the passport to an Uber, and now we can drink champagne. So thank you to him as well, and thank you to the Uber driver. I’ve just posted his name on Twitter, and if he reads this, he’s welcome to join our party tonight.”

The Abbaye was a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.