The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 1st October 2023

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from ParisLongchamp

Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1) 1.15
Beauvatier
First blood on Arc de Triomphe day can go to the home team with Yann Barberot’s Beauvatier. This Lope De Vega colt is unbeaten in four starts this season, and he won here four weeks ago at a long odds-on price, so would be expected to be bang there again. Aidan O’Brien sends out Unquestionable, who has done all of his racing at The Curragh, and might just want a firmer surface so Richard Hannon’s Rosallion rates the main danger if handing the cut in the ground. Beauvatier is probably the most exciting two-year-old colt in France this year, and is hard to oppose for the opener

Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Group 1) (Fillies) 1.50
Darnation (nap)
Karl Burke is having a tremendous season with his sprinters, and can take Group 1 honours here with Darnation. This Too Darn Hot filly was especially impressive in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on soft ground last time out, and a repeat of that run would put her right in the frame stepped up to a Group 1. Opera Singer from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard was a cosy winner at The Curragh back in August, though is untried on ground this deep, but looks the main rival to the selection. There are some decent progeny of Too Darn Hot coming through for the first time this year, and Darnation looks one to keep on side. Respected

Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) 3.05
Ace Impact
What a line-up for Europe’s richest flat race and a real thriller is in store. Aidan O’Brien has supplemented St Leger winner, Continuous for this valuable prize, but that was a hard won Classic just two weeks back, so it has to be taken on trust that he’s ready to fire again. Owen Burrows has laid out Hukum for this assignment, but it’s been a lengthy break since he landed the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, just a head in front of the re-opposing Westover, who was sixth in this race last year so won’t be overawed by the occasion. However, the home team hold the ace in the pack with the unbeaten Ace Impact, although he’s not taken on this 12 furlong trip so far in his five starts. Also for the home team, the fast finishing Feed The Flame makes the shortlist, but Ace Impact, the Cracksman colt, looks something special so gets the nudge, with Hukum and Westover making a race of it for the minor places

Prix de l’Opera Longines (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 3.50
Blue Rose Cen
Christopher Head will be hoping that his stable star can get back to winning ways for this Group 1. A winner of both the French 1,000 Guineas and the French Oaks, she’s a class act that got no sort of run in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, having the door firmly shut on her up the inner by Ryan Moore on Above The Curve. That race went to the re-opposing Al Husn, but Blue Rose Cen will be after revenge here. She could only finish fifth in the Prix Vermeille on this track last time out, but that was a red-hot renewal, and she looks to have a bit less on her plate here returned to 10 furlongs

Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group 1) 4.25
Art Power
A gamble is taken on Tim Easterby’s Sprinter who is getting to the veteran stage now, but looks a tempting each way angle for this 5 furlong dash. Until this year unbeaten in Ireland, the Dark Angel grey has to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Flying Five at The Curragh, but every chance he can do so with Oisin Murphy booked for the trip. There’s some classy types here, not least the Flying Five winner, Moss Tucker, and the ever popular Highfield Princess, but Art Power should be right in the thick of things once more

Qatar Prix de la Foret (Group 1) 5.00
Kinross (nb)
It’s very hard to get away from the appeal of last year’s winner, Kinross, for the last of the Group One’s on the card. Ralph Beckett has followed the same plan as last year, with Kinross taking the Group 2 City Of York Stakes on the way to this Group 1 assignment. A win here can give Frankie Dettori a great send-off and there would be no more popular winner on Sunday afternoon. Kinross and Frankie to do the business from an ideal draw in Stall 2

The Mandarin