RACING: LADBROKES ST Leger winner Masked Marvel could be supplemented for Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at today's supplementary stage, with stablemate Nathaniel set to miss the race.
A very impressive winner of the world’s oldest Classic on good to firm ground at Doncaster, the John Gosden-trained Masked Marvel has been inserted into the Arc market at 14 to 1 by Betfred and Paddy Power.
Gosden’s racing secretary Peter Shoemark said of Masked Marvel: “No official decision will be made until tomorrow because that is when the supplementary stage is.”
Gosden’s original Arc hope Nathaniel, winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, had been a marked drifter on the exchanges all week due to the dry weather forecast in Paris.
Had he been able to run at Longchamp, he would also have needed to be supplemented (at a cost of €100,000), but a spokeswoman for James Wigan, racing manager to owner Lady Rothschild, said: “The horse isn’t running (in the Arc).”
Nathaniel is now expected to contest the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15th.
Five horses were taken out at the latest acceptance stage for the Arc. Aidan O’Brien removed Regent Street and Wonder Of Wonders, but the Ballydoyle trainer still has four possibles, headed by So You Think, with St Nicholas Abbey, Seville and Treasure Beach his other entries.
As expected, Casamento was scratched by Godolphin while last year’s Leger winner Arctic Cosmos and David Wachman’s Giant Step were others to come out.
The remaining big names, last year’s winner Workforce and ante-post favourite Sarafina, stood their ground.
Also possibilities at the supplementary stage are Andre Fabre’s Meandre and German challenger Danedream.
John Queally is hoping Elyaadi can run into a place when she steps up to Group One company in the Qatar Prix du Cadran on the same Arc card. With just five wins from 34 starts, the Co Waterford trainer admits the seven-year-old is hard to win with, but he feels she is capable of running a decent race.
“The conditions will be fine for her but she just finds it hard to get her head in front,” said Queally. “Hopefully the two and a half miles will suit her and she might run into a place. I don’t know who rides her yet.”
Elyaadi is among 12 stayers remaining in the two and a half marathon that opens the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe card, but there are no British raiders.
Her likely rivals include Francois Doumen’s duo Kasbah Bliss and Celtic Celeb and Andre Fabre’s pair of Ley Hunter and Brigantin.
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