Ghaiyyath Likely To Bypass Arc

Trainer Charlie Appleby has confirmed that Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is likely to bypass the Oct. 4 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in favour of the G1 Qipco Champion S. on Oct. 17 or the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 7. The 5-year-old beat just two home in last year's Arc, but since then has won four of his five starts including the G1 Coronation Cup, G1 Coral-Eclipse and G1 Juddmonte International. Ghaiyyath suffered his first defeat of the season when second to Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. on Sept. 12.

“I think we are saying the Arc is probably an unlikely next start for him,” Appleby said. “He has put up four big performances this year and the first two or three were nicely spaced out. We know that was one of his quickest back ups all season, from the Juddmonte to the Irish Champion S. To go for the Arc and then look for a target afterwards, i.e. the Breeders' Cup, that would be a big ask for a horse like him, in my opinion, as he puts in so much.”

“Plans will be dictated by the conditions,” Appleby added. “The horse had a quiet week after Leopardstown, as he has done after each race this year, but we've been pleased that he is showing his wellness again.

“Ascot is there as a possibility for sure. We've seen what he can do over a mile-and-a-quarter and a mile-and-a-half. When you win an Eclipse, then a Juddmonte and then go and run a great race in the Irish Champion over 10 furlongs, I think people tend to forget what he can do over a mile and a half. He has only run three times over a mile-and-a-half. He has broken the track record twice–in Germany and here in the Coronation Cup.

The Appleby-trained Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) will also forego a trip to Paris for the G1 Prix de la Foret on the Arc undercard and instead target the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Champions Day or the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.

“Pinatubo is not going to go to France next week, he is having a break after [finishing second in] the Moulin,” Appleby said. “All being well, you've got the two options–Champions Day at Ascot over the mile or the Breeders' Cup. Again, without having a rubber stamp on it, you would say the percentage call would be to look towards the Breeders' Cup.”