Do Deuce, Tuesday Stand Out on Banner Longchamp Card

Do Deuce heads the cast Sept. 11 for what is often a very informative day of trials at ParisLongchamp, with the Tokyo Yushun-Japanese Derby (G1) winner as short as 14-1 for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) ahead of his prep run in Sunday's Prix Niel (G2).

Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi has earned plenty of international success already, courtesy of Vivlos , who won one and finished second twice in three consecutive runnings of the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1T), as well as a Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) win with Admire Mars. 

The mount of the legendary Yutaka Take, Do Deuce will be aiming to match the Niel win of the Tomomichi-trained Makahiki  in 2016, though he'll be hoping for better than the 14th place that colt then managed in the Arc.

"Running in the Prix Niel will give him valuable experience and while it would be great to win the race, running well is the main thing," said Tomomichi. "He has plenty of strength, and I don't think heavy ground would pose him a problem. In fact we have discussed whether he might be a horse for the Saudi Cup (on dirt)."

Aikhal  will represent Aidan O'Brien, whose only previous Niel winner was Soldier Of Fortune  in 2007.

The X-factor in the race could be Lassaut , who was one of very few stakes race winners at Deauville to come from off the pace and who tries 1 1/2 miles for the first time.

Jean-Claude Rouget said of the talented Almanzor  colt: "We'll find out if he stays, and it was important to find a race without too many runners, so he can be ridden off the pace as usual and then try and come with a late run."

Powerful Overseas Challenge in Vermeille

The last three editions of the Prix Vermeille (G1) have gone to overseas raiders and Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1) runner-up Tuesday  heads a powerful challenge from top yards in Ireland and Britain.

Last seen pushing Alpinista  hard in the Yorkshire Oaks, Tuesday will be the ride of Aidan O'Brien's star sub in France, Ioritz Mendizabal.

As Alpinista continues her build-up to the Arc, her owner/breeder Kirsten Rausing is represented here by Albaflora , who missed out by a short head in the QIPCO Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse last October and has been off the track since May this year.

"Albaflora had a problem after Chester but that appears to have sorted itself out," trainer Ralph Beckett said. "She's drawn wide which is an issue but she's had a racecourse gallop and is fit and ready."

Francis Graffard is doubly represented courtesy of the Aga Khan's Baiykara  and Sweet Lady , who waited for this race rather than running in last Sunday's Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) on quicker ground.

"She's in very good form, and she loves both a mile and a half and softer ground," said Graffard. "A filly who wins the Corrida has every right to line up in the Vermeille."

He added: "Baiykara wasn't quite at her best when she ran in the Malleret but she's in fine form now and will also appreciate slightly softer ground."

Grand Glory  has arguably been in the form of her life at the age of 6 and has been freshened up since finishing third to State of Rest (IRE) in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

"She started back working at the end of July," trainer Gianluca Bietolini said. "She worked well under Cristian Demuro last Wednesday, and I'm very calm, but I'm slightly worried about the 3-year-olds, Tuesday and La Parisienne, because I don't have any kind of a line with them."

Grand Glory is as big as 50-1 for the Arc, but the mare's price could shorten considerably if she performs to her best.

Verry Elleegant Out to leave European Debut Behind Her

The possible clues for Europe's richest race begin with the Prix Foy (G1), which was won in 2019 by Waldgeist, who achieved the double in that year.

Bubble Gift  is a deserved market leader based on his win in the Niel on this card 12 months ago and his third-placed effort behind Alpinista  in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) last time out.

High Definition  was sixth in that race and again failed to cut much ice in the Juddmonte International (G1) behind Baaeed , though his best form would certainly give him a decent chance here.

Australia's darling Verry Elleegant is the main attraction, despite having run a pretty strange race on her European debut when struggling to go the pace over a mile and two furlongs in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1).

Francis Graffard has been making confident noises about the way she has come on from that run and has steered the 11-time group 1 winner here rather than the Vermeille.

"She's not the same mare who arrived in July, she has changed a lot and is much better in herself," Graffard said. "She'll enjoy the mile and a half and softer ground. I wanted to run her here in a smaller field with slightly less-elevated opposition. It should give us a good idea of where we stand."