by Sean Cronin & Tom FraryThe William Haggas stable was denied by a whisker when Sea Of Class (Sea The Stars) failed to overhaul Enable (Nathaniel) in the 2018 renewal of ParisLongchamp's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Newmarket-based Yorkshireman is back with serious ordnance for another assault on Europe's richest race.Film producer George Waud's TDN Rising Star and G1 Derby runner-up Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars) is this year's Somerville Lodge representative and seeks a career best coming back off victories in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, over the Arc course and distance, and York's G2 Great Voltigeur in August.Having been torn between a tilt at Doncaster's G1 St Leger–a race dear to every Yorkshireman's heart–and a trip to Paris, the trainer has opted for the shorter trip for his stable star.“For an Englishman, the St Leger is obviously a prestigious race and, although I think he would stay that [extended 14-furlong] trip without any problem, I felt he deserved the opportunity to take his chance in the Arc,” Haggas explained. “When he won the Grand Prix de Paris, that was the first time he really showed me speed. Then, in the Great Voltigeur, he travelled into the race very easily and showed more speed than the others so, deep down, I think the Arc was always the race that seemed most suitable for him. What I like about him is that every one of his races this year has been better than the one before. Everyone wants to win the Arc and to line up with a chance is fantastic for us. Everyone with a runner in the Arc is delighted to be taking part and somebody will win it. We just hope it will be us.”As was the case in 2018, there is the daunting prospect of overcoming the showpiece's reigning champion and Daryz (Sea The Stars) poses the ultimate test this time around. The Francis Graffard trainee displayed an array of gears during the early part of the campaign with victories over shorter trips in the G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Prix Aga Khan IV (Prix d'Ispahan), and he bounced back to his best in last month's G2 Prix Foy after finishing third behind familiar foes Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and the reopposing Minnie Hauk (Frankel) in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince Of Wales's.Carrying six pounds more on the weight-for-age scale than last year, he will attempt to become the first colt since Alleged in 1978 to complete the double.“Everyone has seen that he is a horse with a tremendous turn of foot and that he is versatile,” said Nemone Routh. “He adapts to every distance and, for us, he is a champion. We have never had a horse attempt the double and all the horses who ran in and won the Arc for us were not kept in training the following year. It is an enormous challenge and we know it is very difficult, but we have confidence in him and are delighted to be here. He has all the qualities required to complete this double.”Graffard added, “Daryz needs a strong pace and the stronger the pace the better he is because he has an enormous ability to accelerate. I think that, over 10 furlongs on good ground, he is devastating. For me, the reason he won the Arc last year on soft ground over 12 furlongs is simply because he is a very good horse. He impressed me, particularly in the Ganay and Ispahan, and the amount of power he can produce when he accelerates really amazed me in the spring. Sunday will obviously be a test and it is a difficult race, but in terms of physique and acceleration, I think he is the best horse I have trained so far.”Graffard also relies on G2 Prix Niel winner Varandir (Zarak). He had previously finished a close-up fourth behind Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris.The aforementioned Minnie Hauk, last year's narrow second, is one of a powerful trio from Ballydoyle which also includes G1 Irish Derby hero Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) and the four-time Group 1 winner Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica), who steps up to 12 furlongs for the first time after suffering a first defeat in seven starts when second in August's G1 Prix Jean et Louis Romanet.Benevento Cellini, the selection of Ryan Moore, and Diamond Necklace are drawn on opposite wings, while Minnie Hauk is housed next door to Maltese Cross in stall ten.“Benvenuto Cellini is a tough horse and needs 12 furlongs run at an even pace,” said Aidan O'Brien. “He is versatile and he is a horse with a big stride and a lovely action who stays 12 furlongs very well. I think an Arc run at an even pace would suit him very well.”“Diamond Necklace was also prepared for the Classics and it is difficult for a three-year-old when you prepare for the Classics.” the trainer continued. “She has never run over this far before and it is quite possible that she ran again a little too quickly after Goodwood [last time]. It is possible that I had not been hard enough on her in training and I was looking for a race that could bridge the gap between Goodwood and Arc weekend. We did not want to run over 12 furlongs in a trial and that is why she did not run in the [G1 Prix] Vermeille. We cannot be certain she will stay, but fillies of this type have done it over the years. We still will not know whether she stays the distance until she does it.”Turning to Minnie Hauk, he added, “The only thing that has been a little difficult for Minnie Hauk this year has been some issues with her feet, but we were very happy with her the last time [when third in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks]. So far, everything is going according to plan and the Arc has always been the target. We would like good ground for all three horses as that would suit them all.”With one dozen Group 1 winners set to head postward, this year's edition is the strongest on record and also features last year's sixth and seventh, Arrow Eagle (Gleneagles) and Kalpana (Study Of Man).There will not be a dry eye in the house should the former defy monster odds and provide the retiring Jean-Claude Rouget with the perfect send-off and a third victory following the exploits of Sottsass in 2020 and Ace Impact in 2023.The Juddmonte silks have prevailed in seven prior editions and Kalpana, available at much shorter odds, has collected the G1 King George and G1 Yorkshire Oaks en route to this prime target. “The Arc is an incredibly hard race to win and Kalpana's performances have really been geared around running in the Arc,” commented Barry Mahon. “She was drawn badly last year and then lost one of her cheekpieces around the final bend. Andrew Balding has bought some new ones, which we hope will stay on this time! Her best performance of the season came in the King George on good ground and, given the current conditions, that could be a positive. She worked last week and Andrew told us she was still in very good form. The most important thing is that she is still showing the same enthusiasm she had at the start of the season, so we are really hoping for a very good performance from her. Daryz is an incredible horse, although I think good ground could perhaps be slightly against him and you must have a lot of respect for Maltese Cross, who looks very ready for the race.”Freediving deeper, Shapoor Mistry's G1 Irish Oaks Thundering On (Frankel) is another not to be discounted lightly having regained the winning habit in last month's G2 Blandford on Irish Champions weekend.“It is obviously a very special race, a historic race, and one of the great events of the international Flat racing season,” said Joseph O'Brien. “Thundering On has stamina, as well as speed, and she relaxes very well during her races. She has a very good turn of foot and she would be at her best on ground slightly softer than good. She generally likes to come from the second half of the field and her draw [in three] should not be a major concern. It is a real privilege to be able to take part. That was true when I was a jockey and it is just as true today. It is an extremely competitive race and you need a horse that not only has a great deal of ability, but also the temperament required to cope with the conditions.”Japan's annual quest for a first Arc now borders on obsession and this year's representatives, dual G1 Takarazuka Kinen winner Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) and the dual Group 1-placed Admire Terra (Rey De Oro), have once again suffered the vagaries of the draw. They have been allocated stalls 13 and 12, respectively.This has been the long-term aim for Meisho Tabaru, according to trainer Mamoru Ishibashi, who explained, “The project began last year when the horse won the [2025] Takarazuka Kinen. Meisho Tabaru has often had a lot of time between his races and we considered running in a prep race, but we felt there was no problem with going directly to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after the [2026] Takarazuka Kinen [in June]. I feel he has become more accustomed to his [new] surroundings and I think he is doing well. This is one of the greatest races in the world and I never imagined that one day I would find myself here in this situation. I feel a lot of pressure, but it is also very exciting to be able to take part.”Yasuo Tomomichi will be making his third attempt at Arc glory with Admire Terra, having previously sent out Makahiki (Deep Impact) in 2016 and Do Deuce (Heart's Cry) in 2022.“It is a very special race for all Japanese people and, if I could become the first Japanese trainer to win it, it would be a dream come true,” the trainer said. “Admire Terra arrived in France around three weeks ago and we have been able to carry out a very good preparation. His preparation has gone very well, he is in very good condition and we are ready for the race. On my two previous attempts, I brought over two very high-quality horses and have learned a great deal from those two experiences. I think he has the qualities required to adapt, particularly because of his action and stamina. Admire Terra continued his preparation in Japan before spending his final three weeks in France and that is an important difference compared with my two previous attempts.”The Arc and Sunday's five other Group 1 races in Paris are “Win and You're In” qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland at the end of the month.Lightning To Strike Again… One of the season's sure bets, Juddmonte's Blue Bolt (Blue Point) should help pave the way for Kalpana in Saturday's G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Twelve months ago, the fledgling was chasing home Fallen Angel in a furiously-fast renewal and that remains her last and possibly final defeat with every subsequent step representing another landmark.After powerful displays in the Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot, the Falmouth on the July Course here, the Prix Rothschild at Deauville and Matron at Leopardstown, all that is left is to turn up again and deliver against mostly the same peers. Assembled here are the Matron runner-up City Of Memphis (Sioux Nation), the Rothschild third and fourth Moon Target (Cracksman) and Evolutionist (Night Of Thunder) and the Duke of Cambridge fourth Kon Tiki (Night Of Thunder), so very little new to trouble her.This race has produced big upsets in the past, possibly due to where it sits on the calendar, so it may be that the only thing that can beat Blue Bolt is Blue Bolt but her biggest fan Colin Keane is not concerned about that eventuality. “She's done absolutely nothing wrong this year. She was second to Fallen Angel in this last year and she'd come a long way in a short space of time then,” he said.“This year she has just gone from strength to strength and she has looked fairly bombproof. She does handle an ease in the ground, but she's at her best on a sound surface. She's uncomplicated, she wins, she saves her best for the track and that's what you need.”Scandinavia Tops Saturday Longchamp Cast…Like Blue Bolt, Scandinavia (Justify) has gone through his current campaign with ruthless efficiency and his presence on Saturday's ParisLongchamp card significantly boosts the preceding fixture to Arc day. While the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran is no cakewalk with the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier and Doncaster Cup winner Caballo De Mar (Phoenix Of Spain) in the line-up, it is possibly his easiest Group 1 test so far in 2026.Aidan O'Brien also has the Irish St Leger runner-up Queenstown (Galileo), but this should be the extension of the big horse's winning sequence. George Scott is clinging to the hope that Caballo De Mar's love of France can see him at least competitive. “Aidan running Scandinavia was a bit of a shock, but Caballo loves the track and got his confidence back at Doncaster last time so deserves to take his chance,” he said, before adding, “but we're very realistic about his chances.”ParisLongchamp's other Group 1 on Saturday is the Qatar Prix de Royallieu, with last year's winner Consent (Lope De Vega) returning after a winless campaign so far encountering a much livelier surface than 12 months ago. Sunly (Night Of Thunder) was unlucky in the Prix Vermeille last month and has extra ground to help her should she be slowly away again, while Waardah (Postponed) comes in off a Park Hill success that should boost her confidence.The latter sports the colours of the late Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, so would be an emotive winner for connections and Owen Burrows is happy with how she is coming to the 14-furlong contest. “She did it well at Doncaster and just appreciates that bit of good ground,” he said. “As long as it's genuine good ground, that will be fine.”Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said of Sunly, “If the ground had been softer for the Arc, it would have suited Sunly but we feel she will stay this trip given the way she hit the line last time. Sunly hasn't had a huge amount of racing and if the owners decide to keep her in training maybe this time next year it will be her lining up for the Arc.”Game, Set And Match?So close to winning the Irish Champion, Victorious Forever's Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) drops in class for Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Dollar and George Scott is hoping he can make his class count in a hot affair. “He's just a really admirable horse who is not very big, but tries really hard and always seems happy,” he said. “He's a pleasure to have around and Christophe [Soumillon] is his biggest fan, which I love. When a jockey has confidence in a horse, especially such a magic man like Christophe, it's just wonderful to hear and fills you with confidence also.”“It looks a great spot for him and I'm sure it'll be a tough race, but hopefully the others will all be looking at us as one to worry about,” he added. “Hopefully he can keep it nice and smooth and he gets his day in the sun.”Andre and Lavinia Fabre are represented by the relentless winner Phineas (Lope De Vega), who impressed in the course-and-distance Prix du Prince d'Orange, while the 2,000 Guineas third and Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) adds gravitas to the Dollar.Charlie Appleby said of Distant Storm, who came back from a break to win the Prix Daphnis in August and who is up to this 10-furlong trip for the first time, “We have been pleased with Distant Storm since his win at Deauville. We have thought about stepping him up in distance for some time and I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on over this trip. It looks a strong renewal of the race, but we feel he will be a big player if he finds any improvement for the extra couple of furlongs. He heads to France in good nick and conditions should hopefully suit.”Also on the card is the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, where Wathnan's Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot) tackles nine rivals including last year's runner-up and recent Solonaway winner Quddwah (Kingman). Wathnan's adviser Richard Brown said of the five-year-old, “The plan is for her swansong to be in the Filly & Mare Turf at the Breeders' Cup and we just thought the ground would be a little bit kinder to her in France than at Newmarket. It's a very important meeting for us with it being sponsored by Qatar and we'd rather run her on kinder ground with one eye on Keeneland.”Arc Day Gems Abound…Sunday's Arc undercard is always one to relish and the action begins with the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, where the Irish standard-setting fillies Green Empress (Saxon Warrior) and Ibelieveicanfly (Frankel) have to overcome wide draws. The Wertheimers have a strong hand in the mile contest, with the Prix Six Perfections winner Data (Lope De Vega) and unbeaten TDN Rising Star Allela (Night Of Thunder) lining up with the latter suggesting she is capable of big things with her performances at Deauville and Chantilly.The G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere sees more draw woes for Ireland, with the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes hero Folsom Blues (Blue Point) in the widest stall on the infamous Nouvelle Piste better known colloquially as the “Toboggan.” Mickael Barzalona knows it well and will need all of his riding talent to overcome on the Al Shira'aa Racing homebred.Fellow TDN Rising Star Avec Toi (No Nay Never) is also compromised in eight as he defends his perfect tally following wins in the Prix Francois Boutin and Prix la Rochette, while the Ballydoyle trio have fared well with Ryan Moore on the Richmond Stakes winner Man's Best Friend (No Nay Never) and William Buick on the Tyros winner Florida Bay (Mehmas). Francis Graffard runs the filly Amusingly (No Nay Never), who drops in trip having been denied in the Prix d'Aumale over a mile last time.In Her Shadow?Given that she began her current campaign off an official mark of 72 and managed to get beaten in a Southwell handicap to boot, it is nothing short of remarkable that the Katie Scott-trained revelation Naana's Shadow (Havana Grey) heads to Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines as favourite. So dominant in the course-and-distance Prix du Petit Couvert last month, the 20,000gns Tattersalls November Online Sale purchase has a wide draw to overcome on a strip where it pays to be housed near the rail.France's leading hope appears to be Chauvigny Global Equine's Shiri (Mehmas), who was behind Naana's Shadow last time but is much better drawn in four here, while the recent World Trophy Stakes winner Miss Yechance (Cotai Glory) carries the hopes of jockey Jack Nicholls, grandson of the legendary “Sprint King” Dandy whose Continent won this in 2002.“It's a bit surreal for me and I've never ridden in a Group 1 and never in France, so it's a huge opportunity and it's great that the owners, Karl [Burke] and everyone at Spigot Lodge have put their trust in me to ride her,” he said. “She's got plenty of quality and all she has seemed to do is improve since she has come to Karl's. She's gone from strength to strength as the year has gone on and seems to be thriving at the minute. I just hope both myself and the filly can perform on the day now and do everyone proud.”Sunday's other Group 1s are the Prix de 'Opera Longines, where the Wertheimers' star performer Aventure (Sea The Stars) looks for another top-level triumph taken on by Ballydoyle's Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) who moves up from a mile. Also in the mix is the Diane and Vermeille runner-up Pink Panthera (Chachnak), while back on the “Toboggan” The Aga Khan Studs runner Samangan (Blue Point) has to defy a wide draw in the Qatar Prix de la Foret.“He wasn't right at the beginning of the year and the application of cheekpieces have helped him focus, so it finally came together and he's doing really well now,” Nemone Routh said of the Prix Maurice de Gheest hero. “He's been training well on the round track and is a big strong horse who is entitled to keep on improving. He hasn't got a great draw, but he is pretty straightforward and has good early speed. The only question mark is will he stay, it's quite a long, demanding straight at Longchamp but if he does he'll be tough to beat. He's got his ground too, he's not a soft-ground horse.”Samangan is taken on by the Prix Jean Prat winner Thesecretadversary (St Mark's Basilica), sporting the famed Sangster silks, and the 1,000 Guineas heroine True Love (No Nay Never), who is better drawn than both of them.The post Daryz In The Maltese Crosshairs For The Arc? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.