Connections leaning to America with time

Henry Cecil’s Passage Of Time appears poised to miss the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in favour of a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on October 27.

An American trip had looked the favoured option in the aftermath of her promising third in the Prix Vermeille two weeks ago, although Cecil had subsequently raised the possibility of a return to Longchamp for the Arc.

But while France is still an option, it now looks a little more remote.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said: “It is more likely she will go to America rather than the Arc. I never like ruling anything out – it is hard to say.

“If it came up very soft, the Arc is an option but I think it is more likely we will bypass it and head to Monmouth Park.”

Passage Of Time was returning from a lengthy absence in the Vermeille, during which time she was treated for a throat abscess and was said by Cecil to have lost a considerable amount of weight.

However, before finishing eighth when favourite for the Oaks, she had won both the Musidora Stakes and the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud, where she beat Irish Derby winner and Arc second-favourite Soldier Of Fortune.