With eight Group 1 events over two days headed by Europe’s most prestigious race, there is no more exalted meeting on the continent than the two-day Qatar Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp.
Six of the G1s are staged on Sunday’s card – and five of them are part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge, offering fees-paid berths to designated events at Keeneland on November 6-7.
While the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe itself is the clear highlight, there is no shortage of interest on a glittering support card, high on the list being the Longines-sponsored Prix de l’Abbaye, which is linked to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
On the downside, a dreadful weather forecast promising testing conditions could play havoc with running plans. Not only has former Arc favourite Love been pulled out of that test, but the much anticipated return to Paris of Europe’s top sprinter, the flying Battaash, is also a non-runner in the Abbaye now.
Now six, the gelded son of Dark Angel won the five-furlong dash at Chantilly in 2017 but has been beaten twice since the Abbaye returned to Longchamp – including 12 months ago in a dismal effort behind Glass Slippers as the mud blunted his speed. Glass Slippers, who is already qualified for the Breeders’ Cup after a G1 win last time in Ireland, is the likely favourite on Sunday. Victory would make the daughter of Dream Ahead the first horse to win the race for a second time since Lochsong in 1994.
It hardly needs saying that history suggests the Abbaye will not be staying at home. It seldom does – in the last 40 years, only four French-trained horses have won and none is shorter than double figures with the bookmakers.
Alongside the Abbaye, the Prix de l’Opera, plus both 2-year-old races are also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge.
The Opera, which offers a place in the Filly & Mare Turf, looks a cracker with the unbeaten Tawkeel facing a top-class trio from Ireland in the Aga Khan’s Prix Vermeille winner Tarnawa and the Prix de Diane 1-2 Fancy Blue and Alpine Star.
Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Pretty Gorgeous heads a big field of 16 2-year-old fillies in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac; Deauville winner Fev Rover is another likely sort.
There may also be slim pickings for the French in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, where eight-time winner Aidan O’Brien looks well placed yet again with Wembley and St Mark’s Basilica – second and third in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. Main market rival is Clive Cox’s Royal Ascot winner Nando Parrado.
Prix de l’Abbaye: a bit of context
History: Alongside the Prix du Moulin (later moved to September), France’s premier sprint was one of two new races introduced in 1957 at the Arc meeting to celebrate Longchamp’s centenary. The ‘abbaye’ in question is a 13th Century abbey formerly located on what is now the northern edge of the racecourse. Destroyed in the French Revolution, the site is now partially occupied by the Chateau de Longchamp.
Star turn: Lochsong (1993) – one of only four dual winners, the Ian Balding-trained sprint mare made all to win unchallenged on heavy ground under Frankie Dettori; it was six lengths back to the runner-up Stack Rock. She scored again in similar fashion again 12 months later but this time the margin was reduced. She won by only five.
Most wins (trainer): Francois Mathet (8): Texana (1957), Edellic (1958), Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963, 1964), Silver Shark (1965), Farhana (1966), Moubariz (1974)
Most wins (jockey): Yves Saint-Martin (5): Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963), Silver Shark (1965), Farhana (1966), Lianga (1975)
Breeders’ Cup Challenge
The winner of the Prix de l’Abbaye will receive an automatic fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland on November 7. Also part of the ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge series, the Prix de l’Opera is linked to the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf, with the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix Marcel Boussac offering starting places in the Juvenile Turf and Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. A minimum travel allowance of $40,000 will also be provided for all starters based outside North America.
Already qualified: Turf Sprint (5): Hello Youmzain (Diamond Jubilee, Royal Ascot), Oleksandra (Jaipur, Belmont), Battaash (Nunthorpe, York), Imprimis (Runhappy Turf Sprint, Kentucky Downs), Glass Slippers (Flying Five, Curragh)
Filly & Mare Turf (5): Queen Supreme (Paddock Stakes, Kenilworth, South Africa), Almond Eye (Victoria Mile, Tokyo), Love (Yorkshire Oaks), Champers Elysees (Matron Stakes, Leopardstown), Mucho Unusual (Rodeo Drive, Santa Anita)
Juvenile Turf (3): Cadillac (Champions Juvenile Stakes, Leopardstown), Gretzky The Great (Summer Stakes, Woodbine), New Mandate (Royal Lodge, Ascot)
Juvenile Fillies’ Turf (3): Shale (Moyglare Stud, Curragh), Lady Speightspeare (Natalma, Woodbine), Isabella Giles (Rockfel, Ascot)
Breeders’ Cup past performance
As has been stated many times, the European record in the Turf Sprint is dismal indeed, with nothing even placed since Godolphin’s Diabolical came second in the first running in 2008.
As such, the Abbaye can be regarded as no great pointer. Marsha, who won the Abbaye in 2016, was sixth behind Stormy Liberal in the Turf Sprint at Del Mar a year later, after she had finished second to Battaash at Longchamp.
Peerless sprinter Dayjur scored in 1990 before his notorious defeat at Belmont on the dirt when he jumped the shadow in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
On the other hand, the Prix de l’Opera has rather more relevance to the Filly & Mare Turf. Among recent winners, Nahrain (2011), Rhododendron (2017) and Wild Illusion (2018) all came second at the Breeders’ Cup. Last year’s 20/1 Opera winner Villa Marina could finish only seventh behind Irish-trained Iridessa at Santa Anita.
While the likes of Miesque, Six Perfections, Found and Wuheida all won at the Breeders’ Cup in later years after winning the Prix Marcel Boussac, no winner of the race has ever gone on to land the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.
Flotilla was fourth behind Silasol in 2012 before scoring at Santa Anita; last year’s Boussac winner Albigna was fourth to Sharing at the Breeders’ Cup.
Winners of the Jean-Luc Lagardere include Arazi, who went down in Breeders’ Cup history for his astonishing performance on the dirt at Churchill Downs after winning what was then the Grand Criterium in 1991.
Top contenders for the Abbaye
Glass Slippers (Kevin Ryan/Tom Eaves) – three-length winner last term in similar conditions; comes to life in autumn and beat Sunday’s rival Keep Busy for another G1 success last time in Flying Five at the Curragh.
Make A Challenge (Denis Hogan/Joe Doyle) – proven mudlark (five of ten wins on soft ground or worse); drying ground may account for below-par effort last time at the Curragh but still needs to find a bit.
What they say about the Abbaye
- Tom Eaves (Glass Slippers jockey): “I wouldn't be swapping her. Glass Slippers was beaten by Battaash at Goodwood, but she's improved since then. She proved that in Ireland. I’ve been lucky enough to ride four Group 1 winners and every one of them means a lot, but to win another on her would be amazing.” (Racing Post)
- Denis Hogan (Make A Challenge trainer): “We’re really looking forward to it and the forecast looks as though we could get some soft ground, which would obviously be a positive. Joe [Doyle] was a bit disappointed with his run at the Curragh last time, but I wasn't. I think the drying ground counted against him and his draw meant that he was away from where all the action was happening.” (Racing Post)
- Corine Barande-Barbe (Air De Valse’s trainer): “Not many French horses run in the Abbaye and not many have won but she is a fast filly. She broke the Prix du Petit Couvert record last time out, so I think it is very logical for her to run in the Prix de l’Abbaye. I know the ground won’t disturb her.”