Greg Wood's report from Longchamp
Japanese dream of Arc glory turns to a nightmare again
The Japanese quest to win the Arc de Triomphe, which started way back in 1969, is unfulfilled again after today’s result. The heavy rain came over the weekend, which didn’t help runners who normally run on much faster ground, and the outside draw for two of their three runners wasn’t helpful but it was still a desperate return again for the Japanese racing industry which has targeted this prestigious race. Byzantine Dream, heavily backed late, was best of the travelling contingent in fifth with Croix du Nord in 14th and Alohi Alii in 16th. Maybe next year the aim should be to lay all the horses from that country! That’s all for another year for the Arc blog – we’ll be back with more live horse racing from Champions Day at Ascot on October 18th.
Prix de la Foret (4.25pm)
And they’re off … King’s Gamble and Maranoa Charlie lead early and More Thunder is towards the back … in the home straight and Maranoa Charlie has fought all the way to hold off Zarigana.
MARANOA CHARLIE TAKES THEM ALL THE WAY IN THE GROUP ONE QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET! 🏆🇫🇷#QPAT pic.twitter.com/2bBihljFAt
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025
Updated
Prix de la Foret (4.25pm) betting
Zarigana 5/2
Maranoa Charlie 9/2
More Thunder 9/2
Exactly 8/1
Sajir 9/1
Topgear 10/1
Roshvar 18/1
Ten Bob Tony 20/1
Godspeed 25/1
Witness Stand
Geography 28/1
50/1 BAR – 16 Runners
Prix de la Foret (4.25pm) preview
The main action at Longchamp draws to a close with what is now the second Group One seven-furlong race in the European programme, after the City of York Stakes’s elevation to the top level earlier this summer. Zarigana, the French 1,000 Guineas winner earlier in the season albeit in the stewards’ room, heads the betting at around 3-1, but she has something to find on the bare ratings and also managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June. She was 1.13 in running in that race, and 1.01 in running when she was edged out by a complete outsider in the Marcel Boussac here last year, which is a profile that I’m happy to leave alone at her likely odds this afternoon. Sajir, trained by the great André Fabre, looks sure to be a big runner if he handles the soft ground as well as he did good-to-firm in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in August, while More Thunder, who took the step up from handicaps to Group Two company in his stride at Newbury the same month, is also right in the mix.
SELECTION: SAJIR
Prix de l’Opera (3.50pm)
And they’re off … Barnavara leads in the early stages … Qilin Queen comes to challenge as they turn for home … Barnavara is challenged all the way up the home straight by numerous runners but has held on for an extremely gutsy win.
BARNAVARA WINS THE GROUP ONE LONGINES PRIX DE L’OPERA! 🏆🇫🇷#QPAT pic.twitter.com/EmTzWFiZYm
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025
Updated
Prix de l’Opera (3.50pm) betting
See The Fire 10/3
Wemighttakedlongway 7/2
Tamfana 6/1
Barnava 15/2
Grand Stars 11/1
Nicoreni 12/1
January 12/1
Start Of Day 14/1
One Look 14/1
Royal Dress 33/1
Qilin Queen 40/1
Merveilleux Lapin 100/1
Prix de l’Opera (3.50pm) preview
The British-trained pair of See The Fire and Tamfana have several pounds in hand of their rivals according to Timeform’s ratings, but it is a three-way go at the top of the betting as Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway is also attracting plenty of support to improve on her one-and-a-quarter length second behind Minnie Hauk, the Arc favouruite, in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh in July. See The Fire’s biggest performance of the season remains her wide-margin romp in the Middleton Stakes at York’s Dante meeting back in May, while Tamfana, who got off the market at Group One level in the Sun Chariot Stakes 12 months ago, has failed to add to that in three runs this season but has been given a break since finishing seventh of eight in the Lockinge at Newbury in May. Jessica Harrington’s Barnavara is also worth a quick look after getting a first Group Two win on the board in the Blandford Stakes last time out.
SELECTION: WEMIGHTAKEDLONGWAY
Daryz dazzles for Arc success in famous Aga Khan colours
The three-year-old French-trained colt Daryz, in the famous Aga Khan colours, won the Arc de Triomphe with a thrilling late run to catch hot favourite Minnie Hauk near the line.
The 12-1 shot, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, finished second to the Japanese-trained Croix Du Nord in a trial race on Arc weekend last month but Japan, who sent three horses, were again denied victory in the Arc despite a late gamble on all three of their runners.
French runner Sosie made late ground to finish third, having been fourth 12 months ago, and Giavellotto ran a cracker to finish fourth for Newmarket trainer Marco Botti.
Barzalona, somewhat breathless afterwards, stated: “You hope to win this race you have been watching since you were very young. And especially in these colours. We work all year to be competitive in these races. This is a very talented horse and I always thought we might be able to catch the leader.”
Winning trainer Francis-Henri Graffard was overcome in the winner’s enclosure after the highlight of the European Flat season. He said: “This race has an amazing reputation and it’s true that when you win it, it’s very, very special. I’ve experienced some big wins, but this one is very, very special, especially this year.
“He was [so tough]. When I was planning to run at York, I said to Princess Zahra ‘we are not going to win, but we need to toughen him up for the autumn’ and I think the defeat at York helped us to win today because my horse was, for the first time, very professional and mature.”
The Aidan O’Bren-trained Minnie Hauk, who was the 9-4 market leader, looked to have the race in safe keeping when kicking clear in the home straight but was caught by the winner near the line. Part-owner of the runner-up, Michael Tabor, said: “It’s just one of those things – we are very proud of her. She ran a blinder and I thought she had won. We live to fight for another day and I am sure she has got a great future.”
Updated
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.05pm)
And they’re off … Byzantine Dream strats off very slowly and is at the back … Los Angeles is prominent as expected … but it’s Croix Du Nord and Hotazhell the leading pair in the early stages … there’s some scrimmaging and Croix Du Nord will lead them into the home turn with Los Angeles coming to challenge … Minnie Hauk comes quickly … and is caught close home by Daryz!
DARYZ WINS A THRILLING RENEWAL OF THE PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE! 🏆🇫🇷@GraffardRacing | @AgaKhanStuds pic.twitter.com/clRiDGM8FO
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) October 5, 2025
Updated
The three Japanese runners occupy the first five in the betting at this late stage with money coming for Byzantine Dream now. He is now into 11-2 second favourite and here’s Greg Wood on the country’s so far elusive bid to win this prestigious race.
Updated
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.05pm) betting
Minnie Hauk 3/1
Aventure 6/1
Kalpana 11/1
Alohi Alii 12/1
Daryz 12/1
Byzantine Dream 12/1
Sosie 12/1
Quisisana 14/1
Cualificar 14/1
Croix Du Nord 14/1
Gezora 28/1
White Birch 33/1
Los Angeles 33/1
Leffard 33/1
Giavellotto 40/1
Hotazhell 66/1
Arrow Eagle 100/1
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.05pm) preview
As the briefest of glances at the betting shows, this year’s Arc is wide-open and while Cualificar narrowly edged out Daryz in my personal reckoning, there are at least a dozen very plausible winners in the field so here’s a run-down of the key form ahead of Europe’s showpiece event.
Oaks, Epsom, 6 Jun 25 (Minnie Hauk).
Yorkshire Oaks, York, 21 Aug 25 (Minnie Hauk).
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot, 26 Jul 25 (Kalpana).
September Stakes, Kempton, 6 Sep 25 (Giavellotto, Kalpana).
Prix Vermeille, Longchamp, 7 Sep 25 (Aventure, Gezora).
Prix Niel, Longchamp, 7 Sep 25 (Cualificar, Leffard).
Prix Foy, Longchamp, 7 Sep 25 (Byzantine Dream, Sosie, Los Angeles, Arrow Eagle).
Prix Guillaume D’Ornano, Deauville, 16 Aug 25 (Alohi Alii, Cualificar).
Prix du Prince D’Orange, Longchamp, 14 Sep 25 (Croix Du Nord, Daryz).
Prix Jean Romanet, Deauville, 24 Aug 25 (Quisisana).
The 104th Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner is almost certainly in there somewhere (a statement which sets things up nicely for White Birch to return to form on his favoured soft ground) and the moment of truth is not too far away.
SELECTION: CUALIFICAR
Prix de l’Abbaye (1.50pm)
This will be quick so hold on to your hats … and they’re off … Ponntos and Jawaal are going well … here comes Asfoora and she has got up for a first win for an Australian horse in France! Thank goodness they got her passport to the track on time!!
ASFOORA WINS IN THE GROUP ONE QATAR PRIX DE L’ABBAYE! 🏆🇫🇷#QPAT pic.twitter.com/NaSTzQjb8P
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025
Updated
The Prix de l’Abbaye favourite Asfoora’s passport has just arrived in an Uber. If it hadn’t got to the track in time, having been left at the stables by mistake, she would not have been able to run. That was not ideal!
Drama! 😶
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025
For a brief moment, Asfoora's participation looked in doubt but we have had confirmation that her passport has arrived... By Uber! 😅 pic.twitter.com/Ow0clz0Eiy
Updated
Prix de l’Abbaye (1.50pm) betting
Asfoora 7/2
Monteille 9/2
Mgheera 8/1
Frost At Dawn 10/1
Afjan 11/1
Sky Majesty 12/1
Jm Jungle 12/1
Shes Quality 12/1
Night Raider 12/1
First Instinct 18/1
Ponntos 18/1
28/1 BAR – 17 Runners
Prix de l’Abbaye (1.50pm) preview
A single-figure stall is something of a prerequisite in this Group One sprint, and the draw gods have been kind to Henry Dwyer’s splendid mare, Asfoora, as she attempts to become the first Australian-trained winner in France. The Nunthorpe winner will leave stall three, while one of the big local hopes, recent course-and-distance winner Monteille, has also drawn well in one. The home team has a famously poor record in this contest, however, with just four wins so far this century, and Frost At Dawn (stall four) andMgheera (in five) are just two among several British-trained runners with a big chance. Mhgeera, meanwhile, also has form with plenty of cut in the ground, and gives Ed Walker a serious chance to follow up last year’s win in this race with Makarova.
SELECTION: MGHEERA
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.15pm)
And they’re off … Puerto Rico leads A Bit Of Spirit in the early stages … they turn for home with Rayif trying to make a challenge … Puerto Rico has kicked clear with Nighttime behind in second and holds them all with ease. The winner was never in serious trouble and that’s a double already for Aidan O’Brien.
Ballydoyle strike again in Paris as PUERTO RICO lands the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere! 🏆🇫🇷
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) October 5, 2025
A quickfire Group 1 double for Aidan O'Brien and Christophe Soumillon 🏇🤝@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/1jADkYsaar
Updated
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.15pm) betting
Rayif 15/8
Puerto Rico 7/2
Nighttime 4/1
Time to Turn 6/1
A Bit of Spirit 12/1
Campacite 14/1
Vardif 18/1
Cielo Di Roma 66/1
Imperial Me Cen 100/1
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.15pm) preview
Rather like the opening race on the card, the juvenile colts’ Group One pits the pick of the French juveniles against a big runner from the Aidan O’Brien yard, as the unbeaten Rayif (Francis-Henri Graffard) and Nighttime (Christopher Head) take on Ballydoyle’s Puerto Rico. Rayif took the Group Three Prix Francois Boutin last time out, while Nighttime, with a 3-from-4 career record, is also a Group Three winner, having taken the Prix Prix La Rochetteover today’s course and distance in early September. Puerto Rico has been busier than both, and got off the mark only in his most recent outing, in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. He was a big price for an O’Brien-trained runner there and one of the market leaders completely failed to show his best form, but he is a solid 9-2 second-favourite with the bookmakers all the same. A Bit Of Spirit, the Solario Stakes winner in a four-way photo, is also well worth his place in the field, as too is Charlie Appleby’s Time To Turn, a Listed winner at Ascot back in July.
SELECTION: RAYIF
Prix Marcel Boussac (12.40pm) result
1 Diamond Necklace 11/10 fav
2 Green Spirit 9/4
3 Narissa 10/1
Updated
Prix Marcel Boussac (12.40pm)
And they’re off … Venosa takes the lead early on … from Green Spirit … Diamond Necklace is in a good position on the turn for home … Green Spirit goes for home … with Diamond Necklace coming fast and she gets there close home to win for Aidan O’Brien and jockey Christophe Soumillon.
DIAMOND NECKLACE WINS THE GROUP ONE QATAR PRIX MARCEL BOUSSAC! 🏆🇫🇷#QPAT pic.twitter.com/LJ6GxsPHGI
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025
Updated
Prix Marcel Boussac (12.40pm) preview
After a four-year run from 2018 when the Boussac winner failed to register a subsequent win of any kind, France’s most prestigious event for juvenile fillies has picked up a little recently Blue Rose Cen (2022) and Opera Singer (2023) both recording Group One wins at three and Zarigana, who was edged out by a 100-1 stable companion 12 months after trading at 1-100 in running, took the French 1,000 Guineas in May. Green Spirit, unbeaten in four starts including the Prix D’Aumale at this track last time out, leads the home challenge today and also tops the Timeform ratings, but Aidan O’Brien’s Diamond Necklace is also unbeaten – after two starts – and should give her plenty to think about. She won a Listed race on Ireland’s Champions Weekend in September and a victory for the daughter of St Mark’s Basilica would also be a big moment for her sire – a Group One winner from his first crop of juveniles. Between them, the top two in the betting take out around 70pc of the market, but there a few more runners that deserve some consideration. Ozone is also unbeaten in two, albeit at relatively minor tracks, most recently winning a Listed race at Lyon, while Karl Burke’s Aylin took the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last time and her stable could hardly be in better form.
SELECTION: DIAMOND NECKLACE
Good morning, bonjour and welcome to Arc day 2025 with six, count them all, six Group One top-level races to feast on. The build-up has been dominated by talk about the weather as usual and while it may not be bottomless ground out there it’s going to be demanding and you will need to have genuine stayers on your side today.
If you’re following this on the box while keeping up with our updates from me here in Guardian Towers in London and our racing correspondent Greg Wood in Paris the coverage will be on all day on Sky Sports Racing and on ITV from 2.15pm.
Christophe Soumillon is riding the well-fancied Minnie Hauk in the absence of injured Aidan O’Brien No 1 jockey Ryan Moore and he’s already been talking to Matt Chapman on Sky … he says he will ride it like Frankie Dettori! (still much-missed plying his trade in the USA)
"I'm going to ride it like @FrankieDettori!"
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025
Christophe Soumillon partners the favourite for today's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Minnie Hauk and talked to @MCYeeehaaa about her chances... pic.twitter.com/GndcTbVSdD
Preamble
Tony will be here shortly for all the buildup to the big race (3.05pm BST).
