ParisLongchamp plays host to the creme de la creme with no fewer than eight G1s scheduled across Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge makes it farewell visit to Europe for 2021.
Five of the six G1s on Sunday’s card are part of the ‘Win and You’re In’ series offering fees-paid berth to designated events at Del Mar on November 5-6, headed by the continent’s richest race, the €5 million Qatar-sponsored highlight.
However, there is no shortage of interest on a glittering support card, high on the list being the Longines-sponsored Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, which is linked to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
A double-figure field featuring several of the leading sprinters go to post for this straight five furlongs across the centre of the track – not great for viewing, it must be admitted. Likely testing conditions might put a spanner in the works for some of them, but hardy annual Glass Slippers comes to life in the autumn. She won the Abbaye in 2019 and was narrowly beaten from an unfavourable 12 months ago by Wooded before gaining rich compensation at Keeneland in the Turf Sprint.
Now retired, Wooded was one of only five home-trained horses to win the Abbaye in the last 40 years, but Suesa is another top-class 3-year-old speed merchant bidding to keep the visitors at bay.
Irish-trained Romantic Proposal has already qualified for Del Mar by virtue of his surprise victory over compatriot A Case Of You in last month’s Flying Five at the Curragh, where Glass Slippers was third. Nunthorpe Stakes winner Winter Power, only tenth there, also reopposes in a potentially hot contest.
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 runner-up Stack Rock. She scored again in similar fashion again 12 months later but this time the margin was reduced. She won by just 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 will receive an automatic fees-paid berth in the $1m Turf Sprint at Del Mar on November 6. A minimum travel allowance of $40,000 will also be provided for all starters based outside North America.
Already qualified (5): Casa Creed (Jaipur), Dream Of Dreams (Diamond Jubilee), Winter Power (Nunthorpe), Gear Jockey (FanDuel Turf Sprint), Romantic Proposal (Flying Five)
Breeders’ Cup past performance
Last year’s Abbaye runner-up Glass Slippers was Europe’s sole representative in the Turf Sprint at Keeneland when she recorded a famous success over the home team, in the process defying a trend that had seen no transatlantic visitor in the first three since Godolphin’s Diabolical came second in the first running in 2008.
As such, before Glass Slippers the Abbaye was no great BC pointer. Marsha, the 2016 winner, was sixth behind Stormy Liberal in the Turf Sprint at Del Mar a year later, after she had finished second to Battaash at Longchamp. Dayjur scored in 1990 before his notorious defeat at Belmont on the dirt when he jumped the shadow in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Top contenders for 2021
Suesa (Francois Rohaut/Olivier Peslier) – big domestic hope looked right out of top drawer when scoring twice at Chantilly in spring; didn’t get home in heavy ground when forfeiting unbeaten record at Royal Ascot but showed true colours with eyecatching display over this trip in Goodwood’s King George Stakes; shade unlucky (drawn wide, short of room) in Nunthorpe but ran on well; likely favourite on home ground.
Glass Slippers (Kevin Ryan/TomEaves) – Breeders’ Cup heroine comes to life in the autumn and perhaps shade unlucky not to complete back-to-back successes in this race from poor draw 12 months ago; only second run of season when close-up third in Flying Five and could well turn tables.
Winter Power (Tim Easterby/Silvestre de Sousa) – described as “a machine, a superstar” by trainer after convincing victory in Nunthorpe Stakes at York (ground much faster there but won on soft as 2-year-old); went too fast at Royal Ascot and again pulled hard latest after awkward start when flopping in Flying Five behind Romantic Proposal; abundance of speed but seems to save best for York.
Romantic Proposal (Eddie Lynam/Chris Hayes) – improved performer this year who beat several of these with career-best last time out in Flying Five at the Curragh; loves that track and well suited by frantic gallop to claim race in last 100 yards.
Berneuil (Carlos Lerner/Christophe Soumillon) – Lope de Vega gelding has been quietly consistent in French sprint company this term before career-best on latest outing in G3 over course and distance; this is much better race but no problems with ground and should not be overlooked.
What they say
Francois Rohaut
Trains Suesa
“She came out [of York] well. We’ll just forget that race as she had a bad draw. I am very happy with her – she looks much better and much stronger, she is improving, I think. She won three times on very soft going, so I’m not worried about the ground. If the rain does come, it could be even better for her.” SkySportsRacing