Group One Races Loaded on Arc Undercard

While champion Enable is the star attraction Oct. 6 at ParisLongchamp as she bids for her third straight victory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), five additional group 1 races bolster the card.

Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley won last weekend's Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) with 16-1 Millisle and have hot prospect Albigna in Sunday's Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) in their bid for successive group 1s.

The daughter of Zoffany will attempt to give the Niarchos family a fifth success in the race after Six Perfections (2002), Denebola (2003), Divine Proportions (2004), and being part-owner of Rumplestiltskin (2005).

"She was in season when she ran in the Moyglare Stakes (G1) last time, so we can put a line through that run," Harrington said. "It was always the plan to step her up in trip after her group 2 win over six furlongs in June. We're very happy with her, and she has been working well."

Albigna is the only runner in the race representing British- and Irish-based trainers, who have won six of the past 10 runnings.

Andre Fabre has long been a dominant figure in France, but the multiple champion trainer has surprisingly won the Prix Marcel Boussac only once, with Miss Tahiti in 1995.

However, he has a strong hand this year with Savarin and Bionic Woman.

"Savarin is very professional but the concern is the soft ground because she is a light-actioned filly and quite light in her conformation as well," Fabre said. "I am pleased with how Bionic Woman is doing, and if she is placed, I will be happy. She is a nice filly in the making."

Pascal Bary re-opposes Savarin with Kenlova as he seeks a sixth win in the race.

Victor Ludorum Defends Reputation in Jean-Luc Lagardere

He has no stakes form to his name and only made his racecourse debut five weeks ago, but such is his reputation—not to mention the towering record of his trainer, Fabre—that Victor Ludorum is likely to be a strong favorite to make the step up to group 1 level with ease in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1).

Fabre has already produced Earthlight to win the Darley Prix Morny (G1) and the Middle Park Stakes (G1) this season, and Victor Ludorum was considered his equal in the spring.

The master trainer has taken his time with the son of Shamardal but, after overcoming babyish tendencies on debut at ParisLongchamp, turned him around just 13 days later to gain valuable extra experience in a conditions race at Chantilly. 

Both races were won by an easy 3 1/2 lengths, and Victor Ludorum looks a very exciting prospect, though Fabre is far from convinced this week's rain has aided his cause. 

"He was still green at Chantilly and heavy ground could be a problem for him, but he is in very good form," the trainer said. 

One reason Earthlight was sent to Newmarket for the six-furlong Middle Park was to leave the Darley Dewhurst (G1) way clear for Pinatubo.

Armory was Pinatubo's most recent victim in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1), coming off on the wrong end of a nine-length beating, but before that he moved smoothly through the ranks with victories in the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes (G3) and Galileo Irish E.B.F. Futurity Stakes (G2).

"He has progressed with every run and ran a good race in the National Stakes last time," trainer Aidan O'Brien said of Armory. "He should have no problem going a mile for the first time."

Can Fillies Fire on Huge Day for Gosden?

Enable will likely dominate the thoughts of John Gosden on Sunday, but the trainer has a strong hand in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) for fillies and mares, which he has yet to win.

Gosden and Frankie Dettori have not gotten much wrong this year, but the rider may have moved too soon when Mehdaayih was reeled in by Japan's Deirdre in the Nassau Stakes (G1) in August.

Dettori can right that wrong as he rides her instead of Terebellum, who won a group 2 at Deauville seven weeks ago.

"They are two lovely fillies," Gosden said. "We have had this in mind for Terebellum since she won in France last time. Mehdaayih did not have much luck last time or in the Oaks, but both go there in good order."

The O'Brien-trained Pink Dogwood has failed to build on her early season promise and beat only one home when eighth in the Prix Vermeille (G1) last month.

Ryan Moore has, however, stayed loyal, choosing to ride Pink Dogwood instead of Vermeille fifth Fleeting and the improving Goddess.

"Pink Dogwood didn't run to her best in the Vermeille, and we think that dropping down in trip with ease in the ground should suit her," O'Brien said.

"She's in good form and so is Fleeting, for whom the shorter distance shouldn't be a disadvantage. Goddess ran very well last time and is progressing all the time."

Battaash Set to Thrill Again in Prix de l'Abbaye

If there is one horse who might threaten to upstage Enable's date with destiny, it could be electric sprinter Battaash, who is rated just three pounds inferior to the mighty mare and is absolutely brilliant when on his "A" game.

Lightning in the 2017 Abbaye (G1) at Chantilly, Hamdan Al Maktoum's popular 5-year-old has been in blistering form this campaign and produced a career-best when blasting his Coolmore Nunthorpe (G1) rivals at York in August.

"We've had a very similar preparation to York, and we've been pleased with his work and he seems nice and fresh in himself," said trainer Charlie Hills. "It looked like he won easily at York, but no horse can do what he does and have an easy time of it.

"He's won a couple of times on easy ground—it was soft at Chantilly when he won the Abbaye, and his first King George at Goodwood was on horrible ground."

Mabs Cross, fourth to Battaash in the Nunthorpe, was a 12-1 winner of last year's Abbaye so knows what it takes to land the group 1 prize. Autumn conditions could help her return to the winner's enclosure, according to trainer Michael Dods.

"She's traveled over to France well, and I think the ground, if it's soft, will suit her better than what she's been running on," he said. "If Battaash runs his race, I can't see anything beating him, but we'll give it a good go, anyway."

O'Brien has never won the Abbaye but has two live chances to put that right in the shape of 3-year-old fillies Fairyland and So Perfect, who finished first and second in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) when last seen.

"Only a short head separated them in the Flying Five at the Curragh last time," O'Brien said. "Both of them came out of the race well. Hopefully, the ground won't be too soft as neither of them seemed to be mad about it when they ran in the Sprint Cup at Haydock."

Wattel Hopes City Light Can Dazzle in Foret

French trainer Stephane Wattel could bring down the house by landing his first group 1 success in the final pattern race of his country's biggest weekend of the year.

Wattel, who has had a license for more than 30 years, came desperately close to breaking his duck last year at Royal Ascot, where his City Light was beaten just a short head by Merchant Navy in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1).

His sprinter has thrived for a recent step back up in trip and looks to have every chance of grabbing that elusive top-level success.

"Everything has gone well in the three weeks since the Prix du Pin (G3)," Wattel said.

"The main opposition comes from the British horses, and while the way he won last time gives me a lot of hope, we're up against much better horses here. Soft ground won't bother him at all."

Glorious Journey will roll back the years if he makes a winning group 1 debut for Charlie Appleby.

Sheikh Mohammed's maroon and white colors were previously carried to success but largely disappeared after Godolphin's launch. Now they are back and belong instead to the leading owner's daughter Sheikha Al Jalila, in whose name Glorious Journey runs.

Appleby said: "Glorious Journey comes into this race on the back of a pleasing win in the Hungerford Stakes (G2). The ground at Longchamp will suit, and we feel that he can be competitive.

"He has twice won group 3 races in France before and looks to be in a good place at the moment."