Valia

   Europe's penultimate group 1 prize takes place on Sunday and the 2021 running of ParisLongchamp's Prix Royal-Oak carries extra significance as the last of its kind to include the name Alain de Royer-Dupre. Soon set for an honourable retirement from the field he has mastered for so long, the doyen of Aiglemont has one more shot at the big time with last year's runner-up Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Seemingly prepped perfectly for her return tilt, The Aga Khan homebred has no Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) to deal...

ParisLongchamp stages the G1 Prix Royal-Oak on Sunday, with the fillies and mares very much at centre stage. Fresh from a career-best success in the 2 1/2-mile G1 Prix du Cadran here on Oct. 3, Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) is partnered by Seamie Heffernan with regular rider Joey Sheridan suspended due to a whip ban handed out by these stewards on Arc Saturday. On the same day, The Aga Khan's Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) took the G2 Prix Chaudenay in the manner of a filly going...