Last year’s German Derby winner IN SWOOP missed out by only a neck in the Arc subsequently when finishing ahead of Gold Trip. He’s returned to action in fine form with a couple of victories at a lower level and Francis Graffard’s colt is the one to beat. Ebaiyra is upped in class and last year’s runner-up Nagano Gold has found the selection too good the last twice having also finished behind Baron Samedi when Joseph O’Brien’s charge won a Group 2 at Longchamp last autumn. Ballydoyle send over Broome, who should be in the mix having gone close in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh before finding one too good in the Hardwicke at Ascot.
Gold Trip (FR) (9-2) 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Mare Australis (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gs in May.
Kaspar (EG) (9-0) won at Mulheim 1m 3f Grp 2 stks sft in Jun beating Grocer Jack (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
In Swoop (IRE) (8-13) won at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 stks in Jun beating Sublimis (8-13) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Baron Samedi 13-10fav (8-10) 3w upper, edged away, won at Belmont Park 2m stks fm in Jun beating Fantasioso (8-10) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Broome (IRE) 9-4fav (9-1) Raced out wide in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, headway out wide chasing leaders over 2f out, went 2nd final 110 yards and stayed on, never going pace to reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Wonderful Tonight (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Nagano Gold (8-13) 5th of 6, 2 1/2l behind In Swoop (8-13) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 stks in Jun.
Ebaiyra (USA) (8-13) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 2 stks hvy in May beating Raabihah (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ambition (9-2) 5th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Tarnawa (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 2f Grp 1 fll hvy in Oct.