ParisLongchamp Sunday

2.57 Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) (3yo+ fillies and mares) 1m 4f

A wonderful clash of the generations here, as the cream of the three-year-old crop (including five of the first seven from the Prix de Diane plus Aidan O’Brien’s dual Group 1 heroine, Opera Singer) go up against a fine trio of older fillies topped by the two principals from June’s Pretty Polly Stakes: Bluestocking and Emily Upjohn.

Since landing that Curragh showpiece, the Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking has twice run with great credit against the boys, first finishing runner-up in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and then when fourth in a blockbuster Juddmonte International. That level of form would be enough to see her land most Vermeilles, but the French have been defending their top prizes with great determination this season and Survie, from the Nicolas Clement yard, may continue that trend by turning back the British invader.

An Irish-bred daughter of Churchill, Survie came up just a head short in the Diane, giving best to Sparkling Plenty with Aventure close behind her in fourth and Dare To Dream and Birthe further back in fifth and seventh.

Troubled passage

She suffered a troubled passage in the home straight that day, so can reverse those placings with the winner, and has since proved her liking for this mile and a half trip when beating another of these opponents, Mosaique, in the Group 2 Prix de Malleret. Opera Singer scorched to a five-length victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac on her only previous ParisLongchamp run and beat Sparkling Plenty and Emily Upjohn into third and sixth when landing the Nassau Stakes. Yet both her pedigree and style of racing suggest that this step up in trip may stretch her stamina reserves.

Jessica Harrington’s Sea The Boss, the other Irish representative in a field of 12, posted a new career best when fourth in a Deauville Group 2 last time but is still likely to be outgunned in this vaunted company.

SELECTION: SURVIE

Next Best: Bluestocking

1.33 Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2) (4yo+) 1m 4f

Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous looked a potential future champion when landing the English St Leger a year ago before finishing fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but has managed a mere two starts this term: a half-length victory in last month’s Royal Whip Stakes having followed a highly disappointing reappearance in the Hardwicke Stakes.

He looked burly and in need of the run in the Royal Whip so should improve considerably and can put himself bang on target for a second tilt at the Arc by lifting the Qatar Prix Foy.

He faces only four rivals yet is unlikely to have an easy time since two of them are Group 1 winners: Feed The Flame and Iresine. Feed The Flame did best of that duo when they last met, in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June, finishing second compared to fourth, but Iresine has developed a particular fondness for ParisLongchamp and may be the one to give Continuous most to think about.

SELECTION: CONTINUOUS

Next Best: Iresine

3.40 Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2) (3yo) 1m 4f

The day’s third big Arc trial, the Qatar Prix Niel, has attracted a field of six and features the comeback of the brilliant Prix du Jockey Club winner and current ante post Arc favourite, Look De Vega.

Trainers Carlos and Yann Lerner have been unable to conceal their delight at how Look De Vega has been doing since returning from his summer holiday and it will be a big surprise if he does not extend his unbeaten record to four races.

He does face some solid opposition in the shape of Sosie, who he beat into third in the Jockey Club and has since landed the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, plus the dual Group 1 Derby-placed British challenger Ambiente Friendly and the Deutsches Derby third, Augustus.

SELECTION: LOOK DE VEGA

Next Best: Sosie

The Lerners may grab another big race victory before the Niel, as their Prix Maurice de Gheest second, Exxtra, has claims in the 10-runner seven-furlong Group 3 Qatar Prix du Pin, while the final pattern race on the card, the five-furlong Group 3 Prix du Petit Couvert, includes Aidan O’Brien’s long absent Aesop’s Fables among its 15-runner field.