RALPH BECKETT’S top-class filly Bluestocking will take her chance in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday after he owners paid a whopping £100,000 to supplement her for the race.
The four-year-old filly won one of the key trials for the Arc last month when gamely bagging the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.
That victory encouraged Beckett and owners Juddmonte to have a go at the historic race this weekend, despite the high price to enter late.
She has had an excellent season so far, winning the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland back in May before adding the Group 1 Vermeille to her CV three weeks ago.
And she came through a crucial gallop at Beckett’s yard in Hampshire on Saturday morning in good shape, so her connections decided to roll the big dice and head to France rather than wait for British Champions Day on October 19.
Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer will not take her chance in the Arc, however, as she was ruled out at the final stage before declarations tomorrow.
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She was also taken out of the Prix de l’Opera, a ten furlong Group 1 for fillies and mares on the same card, but she still has other international targets on her agenda.
There are 18 horses still in contention for the Arc this weekend, with the market headed by star French three-year-old’s Sosie and Look De Vega.
But the bookies have reported floods of cash for the Japanese contender Shin Emperor, who was a close third behind Economics and Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes last time out.
Sosie and Look De Vega are currently 9-2 joint favourites with Coral, with Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles next best at 11-2.
Auguste Rodin remains in contention for the Arc, but he will only be declared by O’Brien on Thursday is ground conditions – he prefers it quick – are shaping up to be suitable for the four-year-old.
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