Arc field reduced to 16 as ground softens
All the leading contenders stood their ground and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained First Charter was, as expected, supplemented for 60,000 to help the cause of Derby winner Kris Kin.
Elie Lellouche pulled out Bright Sky, who goes instead for a repeat win in the Prix de l'Opera, while Ana Marie has also been rerouted to the fillies-only Group One.
The other defector was Aidan O'Brien's Yesterday, another Opera hope.
The final shape of the Arc field will be known on this morning after the final forfeit, when Alamshar is expected to be a defector.
After persistent rain on Wednesday, the going at Longchamp had eased out six points on the penetrometer to 3.6, but the turf was drying out yesterday with Paris bathed in autumn sunshine.
Andre Fabre, meanwhile, is expecting a big run from Doyen, who will have Frankie Dettori in the saddle on Sunday as he bids to reverse Prix Niel running with Dalakhani.
"He deserves to take his chance in a good year up against two Derby winners (Dalakhani and Kris Kin) three including High Chaparral," he said.
"He's got a beautiful action and lots of stamina."
Fabre does have one concern, though that the electric atmosphere generated by 35,000 fans descending on Longchamp could niggle his rising star.
"That's the one thing, he's quite an excitable colt and he'll be coming up against all the public, but once he's on the track he'll be fine, there'll be no problems there."
Elsewhere on the Arc card, Tim Easterby's Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup winner Somnus has been supplemented for the Prix de l'Abbaye at a cost of 12,000.
Mark Johnston's Darasim has also been supplemented for the Prix du Cadran for the same cost.
Meanwhile Carry On Katie will head into winter quarters disputing favouritism for next year's 1000 Guineas after showing plenty of fighting spirit to take the Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket yesterday. The feisty Jeremy Noseda-trained filly went down to post 15 minutes before her rivals as connections sought to keep her energies for the race rather than the parade ring.
And the plan worked to perfection as the 13-8 favourite kept enough up her sleeve to withstand the late flourish of Majestic Desert for a short-head verdict.
Frankie Dettori took the winner into the lead after a furlong and a half of the Group One contest and the pair soon had most of their rivals at work as they set a testing gallop.
Well-backed French raider Much Faster travelled strongly for a long way but faded rapidly on the quick ground as Majestic Desert came out of the pack to challenge.
The 16-1 chance was closing all the way to the line but could never quite overhaul the leader, while third-placed Badminton (12-1) was another to be doing all her best work at the finish.
Having been purchased earlier in the season by Mohammed Rashid, a friend of the Maktoum family, Carry on Katie's future career may well be under the Godolphin banner.
But Noseda insisted that whatever happens, he was still delighted to have done the job and kept her unbeaten record intact at the highest level.
"I am delighted. It was a game effort as she put her head down and got on with the job," he said.
"We brought her down here during racing 10 days ago to try and get her used to the crowds and it seems to have worked. Everything has worked out.
"Once she is in the race then she is actually a very uncomplicated filly.
"She just misses the middle gears. There is a first gear and a fifth gear and nothing much in between!
"There is plenty to be decided between now and next year and that is all up to the owner, but I am thrilled just for today.
"If she goes to Godolphin then I hope she does well and if she comes back to me I will be delighted."
Carry On Katie now heads the betting with some firms for the 1000 Guineas, a race in which Noseda sent out Wannabe Grand to be second to Wince in 1999 after winning the previous season's Cheveley Park.
It is the sponsors, Sky Bet, who offer the best price of 12-1 about this filly going one place better.
"She will give herself every chance of getting the mile," said Noseda. "I would be more than hopeful about it as she is growing up all the time."
Dettori, whose purple patch shows no sign of stopping, agreed about the filly's potential stamina reserves.
"She switched off in the race and was fighting all the way, which are good signs for her getting a mile," said the winning rider.
"She is beginning to learn what racing is all about and she was a lot calmer today than she has been before.
"We were going a good lick and when I heard the Kieren Fallon whistle coming from behind me I thought 'Oh, look out!'
"She was still a bit buzzy she is very full of life. But what I like about her is that she feels so strong and that she is carrying so much physical scope.
"This filly has the talent to be a very serious contender next year."
Mick Channon was understandably delighted with Majestic Desert's performance and said: "It was a pity the race was only six furlongs. If it had been six and a yard it might have been all right for us.
"They are two good fillies and she has done nothing wrong. People don't realise how good she is. She is as good as I have
