Godolphin looking for ease in the ground for Arc hope Schiaparelli
Sheikh Mohammed’s team have won France’s most prestigious race twice this decade through Sakhee in 2001 and Marienbard a year later, and have seen Schiaparelli emerge as a late contender.
Formerly trained in Germany, he returned from a year away from the racecourse with a close second to Zambezi Sun on his Godolphin debut in the Prix Foy.
He is a general 25-1 shot with his participation not yet decided.
“We are waiting for the rain,” said Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.
“The horse is in good form and worked very well earlier this week, but he needs softer ground so we will wait and see.”
The ground at Longchamp was measured at 3.2 (good) on Wednesday but rainfall is expected.
Connections of Papal Bull are still waiting on a rider for their five-year-old, a narrow runner-up to Duke Of Marmalade in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes who was promoted to the same position after Oriental Tiger was disqualified in Cologne last time.
David Stack, a member of the Papal Bull Syndicate, said: “The jockey booking is fluid at the moment, but Sir Michael Stoute says it will be sorted out by tomorrow morning.”
Last year’s unlucky runner-up Youmzain pleased trainer Mick Channon as Sam Hitchcott partnered him for his final work.
“We know him so much better and are delighted with him,” Channon told his website.
“It looks as competitive an Arc as there’s been in the last 10 to 12 years. It’s so difficult to count anything out, and that’s what makes it such an exciting race to look forward to.
“Like a lot of these races, much will depend on the way the cards fall. Obviously we’d like a strong pace for Youmzain, but as far as the ground is concerned it wouldn’t bother me if it was good or just on the soft side.
“We know he’ll handle some cut but it was pretty lively when he won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”
Considering the opposition, the trainer added: “Zarkava has looked very impressive each time she’s run, but this is the first time she’s taken on colts. I have all the respect for her, but my feeling is that we should take her on.
“Duke Of Marmalade’s won five Group Ones this year which is a heck of an achievement, but I think Soldier Of Fortune needs things to fall his way, just as we do.
“Papal Bull is another who should not be under estimated. It’s such an open race, who knows what’s going to happen?”
Nineteen remain in the Arc after four more dropouts on Wednesday.
Top American performer Curlin was expectedly scratched along with Gloria de Campeao, La Boum and Aidan O’Brien’s King of Westphalia.
Lionel Larrigade, who only started training in July, will have his first Group One runner through Blue Bresil.
The 35-year-old used to be a jockey and has been aiming his charge for the race since his fifth place in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano in August.
“We haven’t got a leading chance, but Blue Bresil is a tough horse who will appreciate the distance of a mile and a half,” said Larrigade.
“I think he is back to his best after a quiet period.
“I don’t think that the summer suits him very well. We have prepared him carefully for this race and have had the benefit of the good climate of La Teste.
“It is a big day for the whole stable and we hope that everything will go well on Sunday.”
Any supplementary entries must be in by this morning.
