Will champion Enable win a record third Arc? See the field

If you were planning to take a day off from racing following Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (G1), you’re advised to reconsider and push off your recuperation time until next week. An epic day of racing awaits on Sunday at Longchamp racecourse in France, with five Breeders’ Cup Challenge races on the agenda.

The highlight of the morning is undoubtedly the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), arguably the most prestigious race in Europe. The coveted 1 1/2-mile race is expected to mark the final start for superstar mare Enable, who is bidding to become the first horse in history to win the Arc three times.

Want to follow along with all the action? Sign up for a free account on http://www.france-galop.com/en to access livestreams, then read on to learn about the most notable names in action at Longchamp this Sunday.

Sunday, October 4

Race 1, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1, 8:15 a.m. ET)

A “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Acclaimed Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien holds a strong hand in this 7-furlong heat with St Mark’s Basilica, who has already competed twice at the Group 1 level. A maiden winner over soft going at the Curragh, St. Mark’s Basilica arrives at Longchamp off a respectable third-place effort in the 7-furlong Vincent O’Brien (G1), beaten just 1 1/2 lengths.

St. Mark’s Basilica should relish the very soft going at Longchamp, so with top jockey Ryan Moore aboard, the son of Siyouni looms as the horse to beat. Nando Parrado might be more accomplished, winning the Conventry (G2) and finishing second in the Prix Morny (G1) behind American raider Campanelle, but he’s never run farther than 6 furlongs and might not be as suited to the testing ground.

Race 2: Prix Marcel Boussac (G1, 8:50 a.m. ET)

A “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

A large field of 14 juvenile fillies will contest this 1-mile prize, but you can bet most of the focus will be on Pretty Gorgeous. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the daughter of Lawman hasn’t missed the exacta in four starts and has proven particularly effective over wet ground, breaking her maiden running a mile on yielding terrain at Bellewstown before cruising in the 7-furlong Debutante (G2) over soft going.

Along the way, Pretty Gorgeous has also held her own against tough company on good ground, placing second in the Silver Flash (G3) and Moyglare Stud (G1) sprinting 7 furlongs. Stretching back out over a mile while encountering very soft ground should make Pretty Gorgeous very tough to beat at Longchamp. Fev Rover, who rallied to win the Prix du Calvado (G2) over very soft conditions at Deauville, is the only other filly receiving significant wagering support.

Race 4: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 10:05 a.m. ET)

A “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

There are very few adjectives sufficient to describe the greatness of Enable, the 11-time Group 1 winner who has dominated racing throughout Europe—and even North America—since 2017. Winner of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), the sensational daughter of Natheniel won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2017 and 2018, but faltered to second place when bidding for a historic Arc three-peat in 2019.

Against all odds, Enable has stayed in training to take another shot at the Arc. Her form remains strong, and she enters Longchamp off easy victories in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) and September Stakes (G3) racing 1 1/2 miles. With regular rider Frankie Dettori in the saddle for trainer John Gosden, Enable appears poised to make amends for her 2019 defeat.

But will the very soft ground affect Enable’s chances? She was beaten over similar going last year and might prefer the ground to be a little bit drier. On the bright side for Enable, the conditions are so testing that breathtaking Epsom Oaks (G1) and Yorkshire Oaks (G1) winner Love has been withdrawn to target the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) instead, removing Enable’s most formidable opponent from the race.

Of course, there are plenty of other quality challengers remaining in the field. Enable’s stablemate Stadivarius—a stayer of the most elite caliber—could be a dangerous threat if the very soft ground turns the Arc de Triomphe into a test of stamina more than speed. Sottsass and Japan finished third and fourth in the 2019 Arc de Triomphe, while the 3-year-olds Mogul and In Swoop ran 1-2 in the 1 1/2-mile Grand Prix de Paris (G1) at Longchamp last month, giving them experience over the course and distance of the Arc.

Throw in upset Epsom Derby (G1) winner Serpentine, the multiple Group 1 winner Persian King, the 2019 Irish Derby (G1) winner Soverign, the globetrotting Japanese mare Deirdre, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) winner Way to Paris, and the improving Prix Vermeille (G1) runner-up Raabihah, and you have the makings of a great race. Will Enable make history at Longchamp? We’ll find out at 10:05 a.m. ET on Sunday.

Race 5: Prix de l’Opera (G1, 10:50 a.m. ET)

A “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Although this prestigious 1 1/4-mile race is open to both fillies and mares, most bettors are counting on the sophomore fillies to outshine their older rivals. Aidan O’Brien’s Fancy Blue defeated her elders in the 1 1/4-mile Nassau (G1) at Goodwood during the summer, and while she enters off a third-place effort in the 1-mile Matron (G1) at Leopardstown, the daughter of Deep Impact should improve while returning to her preferred distance.

Fancy Blue will be joined in the Prix de l’Opera by Alpine Star, a familiar rival who came within a short neck of beating Fancy Blue in the 1 5/16-mile Prix de Diane (G1) back in July. Yet the most formidable filly of all might be the undefeated Tawkeel, whose 5-for-5 record includes a romping win in the 1 1/4-mile Prix Saint Alary (G1) and a tenacious triumph in the Prix de la Nonette (G2) over very soft going at Deauville.

Tarnawa looms as the best of the older runners after cruising by three lengths in the 1 1/2-mile Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp, but the shorter distance and softer ground on Sunday might not be as ideal for thie Dermot Weld trainee.

Race 6: Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1, 11:25 a.m. ET)

A “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

With the scratch of expected favorite Battaash due to the very soft ground, this 5-furlong turf dash has become a considerably more wide-open affair. In the absence of Europe’s standout sprinter, favoritism has understandably fallen to Glass Slippers, who handled very soft ground just fine when dominating the 2019 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp by three lengths.

Glass Slippers enters the 2020 renewal in strong form, having finished second behind Battaash in the King George (G2) before battling to victory in the Flying Five (G1) at the Curragh. Make a Challenge was beaten two lengths when fifth in the Flying  Five, but that was over good ground, and the son of Invisible Spirit had previously won a pair of listed stakes races in Ireland over soft going. Sunday’s conditions might prove more suitable for the improving 5-year-old.

It remains to be seen whether the Prix de l’Abbaye will toss up a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, but on the bright side Battaash is reportedly being considered for a start in the Keeneland championship.

Enjoy the racing!