Snowfall Seeks Further Validation in Prix Vermeille

Ten of the last 21 winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) prepped on the same card coming up Sept. 12 at ParisLongchamp, and you don't need to have an encyclopedic knowledge of form across Britain, Ireland, and France to appreciate that by far the most likely candidate to add to that haul is Snowfall .

The current ante-post favorite for the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) was wildly impressive against her own age group in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) and the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1). In fact, the daughter of Deep Impact  may have disappointed a few of her followers when winning at York by "only" four lengths.

Straightforward and brilliant in equal measure, she has yet to look in danger of getting in a proper fight in four starts this year and is reunited with Epsom partner, Frankie Dettori, for Sunday's 1 1/2-mile test.

"Everything has gone well with Snowfall since York; she's in good form," trainer Aidan O'Brien said. "It was always a possibility that she would come back to this race. She's a very straightforward filly to travel. She hasn't run at Longchamp before so she'll get the chance to do that this weekend."

It is a measure of the impression Snowfall made at Windsor—as well as her tall home reputation—that it is the Roger Varian-trained Teona , and not Snowfall's stablemate and French Classic winner Joan of Arc , who bookmakers judge to be the most likely to cause an upset.

Prior to her Aug. 28 Sytner BMW Sunningdale August Stakes success, she had been keen in her races but if any rider in Europe can get her to settle it is surely Olivier Peslier.

"This is another level entirely, but she more than hinted at star quality last time and is deserving of her chance at the top level," Varian said. "With Snowfall in the race it'll be by some way the biggest test of Teona's young career."

Joan of Arc looked a very decent filly when winning the Prix de Diane Longines (G1), and while she had no answer to Lady Bowthorpe  in the Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1), she wouldn't be the first horse to find Goodwood not to her liking.

"We're running Joan Of Arc to find out a little bit about this trip for her," said O'Brien, who also sends out Yorkshire Oaks third La Joconde . "She can come back to a mile and a quarter for the Prix de l'Opera (G1) on Arc day if this is too far for her. We'll know more after this.

"It was a very solid run from La Joconde last time at York and she seems to be in good form since," he added.

Free Wind's Form Boosts Fabre Chances

Neither Philomene  nor stablemate Burgarita  did what was expected of them in Deauville following their fine runs when second and third respectively in the Diane. Philomene was drawn wide and finished like a runaway train when just failing to reel in Joan of Arc, though she did catch Burgarita, a filly who'd enjoyed a better trip through the race.

Afterward, Andre Fabre expressed the belief that both fillies would stay 1 1/2 miles, and, in splitting them up, he sent Burgarita to the Prix Minerve (G3) over a mile and 4 1/2 furlongs, where she was beaten by Free Wind  and just held off Adhafera .

After Free Wind captured the Sept. 9 Hippo Pro3 Park Hill Fillies Stakes (G2) at Doncaster and Adhafera took the Prix Joubert at Longchamp on the same day, that form now looks pretty smart, while Philomene's fifth-placed effort against the colts in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (G2) over 1 1/4 miles is likely explained by a moderate pace.

Fabre said of the pair: "Burgarita is in good shape and is an easy filly to train. She always runs well. I hope there will be a good pace, they would both benefit from that. Philomene didn't appreciate the slower fractions at Deauville."