Bluestocking defeated Aventure and Emily Upjohn to line up a potential tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe; trainer Ralph Beckett said: "It makes sense to carry on so I'd be keen [on the Arc] if everybody else is keen"
Sunday 15 September 2024 20:06, UK
Bluestocking set herself up for a potential tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with a never-say-die display in the Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp.
Ralph Beckett's top-class filly made a flying start to her campaign with an impressive victory in the Middleton Stakes at York before breaking through at the highest level in the Pretty Polly in Ireland.
She had to make do with minor honours on her next two starts, filling the runner-up spot behind Goliath in the King George before finishing fourth to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International, but got back on the winning trail in determined fashion against her own sex.
Ridden by Rossa Ryan, the 9-4 favourite tracked the pacesetting Halfday for much of the mile-and-a-half contest before taking over early in the home straight.
She was challenged and briefly passed by Aventure racing inside the final furlong, but battled back bravely to double her top-level tally.
John and Thady Gosden's Emily Upjohn ran with credit in third, with the front trio clear of Hughie Morrison's Stay Alert in fourth and Aidan O'Brien's Opera Singer in a slightly disappointing fifth.
Of the winner, Beckett told Sky Sports Racing: "I thought she was beaten - she looked beat, didn't she? But she's just really tough.
"She worked really well last weekend but I wasn't convinced that coming was the right decision. There were a couple of things in the week that I wasn't just [happy with], not with the race or the circumstances, more with her, but she really loves it and that showed today."
Paddy Power cut Bluestocking to 8-1 from 16-1 for the Arc and Beckett confirmed Europe's premier middle-distance contest as her likely target.
"She's in the fillies' and mares' race on Champions Day. We got beaten there last year because it was on the inner track and she didn't get going in time.
"For that reason, if she is well and connections are happy, I'd be keen to supplement in three weeks' time to come back for the Arc," he added.
"She won the Middleton the day after the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe closed and at the time she wasn't even a Listed winner, so that's why she isn't entered.
"But I think today really suited her and when they're enjoying racing as much as she is, it makes sense to carry on, so I'd be keen [on the Arc] if everybody else is keen.
"I sincerely hope the ground isn't as fast as it was last year for the Arc and if it isn't, hopefully she'll be right in it."
Of Opera Singer, O'Brien - who was at the Curragh - said: "I only saw it from halfway through the race. She was probably back a bit further than I thought she would be so she must have been slow away. I missed the first half of it.
"She did keep coming. I didn't get to talk to Christophe [Soumillon] yet. The ground was a little bit on the soft side and mightn't have been 100 per cent ideal, but I haven't talked to him so I don't know."
Sosie is the new favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with some bookmakers after claiming the notable scalp of Look De Vega in the Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp.
Look De Vega was a warm order to maintain his unbeaten record and cement his place at the head of ante-post lists for next month's showpiece event over the same course and distance on what his first competitive start since a brilliant victory in the French Derby in early June.
Ridden by Ronan Thomas and carrying the Al Shaqab Racing colours for the first time, the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained colt was in front for much of the way, but it was clear from early in the home straight that he had a real fight on his hands.
Sosie, who had won the Grand Prix de Paris since finishing third behind Look De Vega in the Prix du Jockey Club, shadowed him throughout in the hands of Maxime Guyon and saw out the mile-and-a-half trip best to score decisively from Delius, with Look De Vega weakening into third.
Coral make Sosie their 7-2 market leader from 7-1 to provide French maestro Andre Fabre with a ninth Arc success on October 6, with Look De Vega eased to 6-1 from 3-1.
Guyon told Sky Sports Racing: "I'm really happy with Sosie, 2400 (metres) is much better for him.
"The ground is a little bit sticky today and for me he is much better on good ground, so I think if the ground is OK for the Arc I have a really good chance to win.
"He's very easy to ride, he's very relaxed. He doesn't have a big turn of foot but he has long speed, which is why I preferred to come outside.
"I cross my fingers for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and we will see, but I think we have a really good chance."
Of Look De Vega, Yann Lerner said: "It's a little bit disappointing to be only third with a horse that was unbeaten, but we know the horse had a good break and when he came back after the break he was very heavy on the scales.
"Still this morning he was more heavy than he should be, but the race today is good. He was in front taking the race, we didn't use the whip and he breathed a lot after the race.
"The big objective is in three weeks and I want to be sure to have my horse very good in three weeks.
"I'm not scared, I have a lot of confidence in my horse and I want to prepare him the best we can. I'm 100 per cent sure in three weeks he'll be in top form.
"There is less pressure on the shoulders and I know we will come with a really nice horse."
Iresine wore down Aidan O'Brien's Continuous to secure victory in the Qatar Prix Foy.
Continuous claimed Classic glory in the St Leger at Doncaster 12 months ago before finishing fifth in the Arc and was looking to tee himself up for a possible second tilt at Europe's premier middle-distance contest off the back of a confidence-boosting Group Three win at the Curragh last month.
The four-year-old set out to make all the running under Christophe Soumillon, but faltered late on and was passed by both Jean-Pierre Gauvin's Iresine and Zarir, with the former coming out on top in the hands of Marie Velon.
With the first two home both geldings, neither are eligible to run in the Arc.
