The likely Ballydoyle runners for Arc weekend, led by G1 Irish Derby hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), were unveiled by Aidan O'Brien on Tuesday.
Fourth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, Los Angeles is one of two probable runners for O'Brien in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he will be joined by 2023 G1 St Leger hero and G2 Prix Foy third Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).
“We think the most likely two are Los Angeles and Continuous,” he said. “We think the ground probably isn't going to be lively enough for the other two, Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg, and the filly [Opera Singer] might go to the l'Opera instead,” said O'Brien.
“We don't think we've seen the best of Los Angeles yet. He's a very big horse, he's improving physically and there's no doubt a mile and a half is right up his alley.
“He won the Irish Derby which is right-handed like Longchamp and we've been very happy. He's had two preps really, he won the race at York [G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes] and then when he went back to a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown. Hopefully we've done as much as we can for him to run as good a race as he can.”
He added of this terms G3 Royal Whip Stakes-winning son of Heart's Cry, “We were very happy with his run in the trial, he finished third, it didn't suit him to make the running but obviously it was going to be a slow pace. We think he'll be much better in a strongly-run race and we've been very happy with him since.
“We think both horses will handle an ease in the ground. Christophe [Soumillon] rode him the last day so it's very possible he could ride him again.”
Of the aforementioned trio more likely to go elsewhere than the Arc, the G1 Japan Cup is still the target for Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while Opera Singer (Justify) is more likely for the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot [GB}) also holds an entry for the 10-furlong G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes.
“Auguste Rodin is still in at the moment but unless the ground is very nice he won't run,” said the master of Rosegreen. “He'll probably go straight to the Japan Cup.
“Opera Singer will do a bit of work in the morning and we'll see how she is. The intention of running her in the trial [fifth in the G1 Prix Vermeille] was to go back for the Arc, but we weren't sure really what happened.
“We could go back for the Opera as that is the easier option. We also think she wouldn't want bad ground, so we're debating whether to run in the Arc or the Opera.”
There are still 18 horses entered in the ParisLongchamp showpiece.
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