The Antarctic Wheels Back for Jean-Luc Lagardere

The Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium, G1) was staged over a mile from the five-year period between 2015-19, but this top-level juvenile prize at ParisLongchamp has since reverted to its traditional seven-furlong trip.

The significance of an extra furlong is more pronounced for juveniles, and the assumption is The Antarctic  would be a no-show Oct. 2 if the Lagardere remained a mile race.

Even over the shorter trip, it is certainly debatable whether the Aidan O'Brien trainee merits favoritism on this first try at the distance. That is partly due to the fact his full brother, the brilliant sprinter Battaash , barely stayed five furlongs at times. In his favor is a greater capacity to settle than his quirky older sibling, but this is also a quick turnaround as he only ran eight days ago in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1).

Admittedly his second-placed effort to stablemate Blackbeard  that day deserves upgrading as he blew the start.

"He's up in trip and trying seven furlongs for the first time," O'Brien said. "He can be slowly away so the extra distance might help him in that regard. We were delighted with him in the Middle Park, and he seems to have come out of the race well."

The trainer dominated in the early millennium with five victories in six years from 2001 to 2006 but has hit the target with just one of his 11 runners in the last decade, with 6-5 favorite Happily  in 2017, although Gleneagles's demotion to third when finishing first past the post in 2014 is interpreted as harsh stewarding.

The Antarctic has run three times more than anything else in the field and is vulnerable to a less exposed rival who is better suited to the trip.

The pick of the French brigade are Breizh Sky  and Tigrais , separated by a short head in the Prix la Rochette (G3) over seven furlongs last time and are difficult to separate.

Of Breizh Sky, trainer Alessandro Botti said: "He was just running back after a break the other day and may have been a bit unlucky with Christophe (Soumillon) finding himself in front too early. Still, he showed some quality. It will be difficult to win with two very good foreign horses in there, but we've had this race in mind for a long time, and I hope he can be placed."

However, the feeling is this could be one for the away team. One of only three juveniles trained by Johnny Murtagh with a future classic entry, Shartash  endured a frustrating passage when third in the Sept. 11 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh last time and may have gone close to winning with more luck. That proved he gets seven furlongs and stall 2 is a positive.

"He's in great order and traveled over well," Murtagh remarked. "Everything has gone well in the lead-up to the race, and I do think he will handle the ground. We're very hopeful."

The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere is a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifier for the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.