"Perhaps it is climate change or maybe it is just a blip, but for the second time in three seasons, the word bon could well appear in the going description at Longchamp when the best middle-distance horses in Europe and Japan gather in the Bois de Boulogne for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the showpiece event of the European Flat season."
"For the moment at least, however, the chance of something adjacent to summer ground this weekend will be welcome news for connections of a three-strong Japanese challenge Croix Du Nord, Byzantine Dream and Alohi Alii but perhaps less so for backers of Aidan O'Brien's second-string, Los Angeles, who was third home on soft ground 12 months ago, behind Bluestocking and Aventure."
"O'Brien has already racked up 19 Group One wins so far this season after True Love's success in the Cheveley Park Stakes on Saturday, and he has entries in all eight of the Group One events over the two-day Arc meeting. Minnie Hauk, who has Group One-winning form on both good-to-soft and good-to-firm ground this year, is currently vying for favouritism with Christophe Ferland's Aventure with British bookmakers at around 4-1."
Longchamp's GoingStick reading of 7.2 currently equates to bon souple (good-to-soft), suggesting softish ground six days before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with little or no rain forecast. Seventeen horses remain declared after the penultimate stage, and Minnie Hauk, unbeaten this season including the Oaks and Irish Oaks, is expected to be added at the supplementary entry stage. A three-strong Japanese challenge of Croix Du Nord, Byzantine Dream and Alohi Alii may prefer firmer ground, while Los Angeles finished third on soft ground last year. Aidan O'Brien has 19 Group One wins this season and entries across the Arc meeting, and bookmakers list Minnie Hauk and Aventure around 4-1.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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