Arc Trials Day - Prix Vermille

3.10 Longchamp

Qatar Prix Vermeille (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner €200,234

Advice: 1 pt win Galikova (4/1 general), 1 pt win La P’omme D’Amour (14/1 general)

Shareta: Third to Galikova last year in this and then second in the Arc at 66/1 when belying pacemaker status; Has actually kept that form going through this year, second of four in Grand Prix De Cloud when ahead of Galikova, herself making her seasonal debut (strong edition in hindsight, not run to suit) before outstaying The Fugue when taking deserved Group 1 win in Yorkshire Oaks latest; Should go really well in race that trainer’s won three times since 2005.

Sarah Lynx: Fourth in this last year (not exactly ideal passage but did look fourth best on that day) but deeply impressive winner of Canadian International next time out, but gone backwards badly since then and others much preferred here.

La Pomme d’Amour: Progressive in typical Andre Fabre style to win three of her four starts this year, including 1m4f Group 2 at Deavuille latest where she ran down strong yardstick late on in good style; Clearly has more to give and can’t be underestimated despite Guyon supposedly choosing Romantica out of the two; Should go well.

Galikova: Really impressive when winning this last year, construing progression that had been shown since midsummer in French Oaks; Not quite as good in Arc but two efforts this season hint at her being as good as ever; Noever suited by slowly run Grand Prix De Saint Cloud on seasonal return when clearly quite unfit, and much better judged by her third to none other than elite 10f fillies Snow Fairy and Izzi Top; The one to beat here.

Solemia: Came from even further behind that Shareta did when beating her in 1m2f Saint Cloud Group 2 but well held by La Pomme d’Amour last time out and owner’s clear second string despite being a useful enough horse in her own right.

Pirirka: Might have been poorly positioned when fourth behind La Pomme d’Amour but even so, well beaten and while her first pattern success just beforehand entitles her to respect, stronger prices of form to be found for sure.

Romantica: Really ready winner of Group 2 over 10 furlongs last time out (good) and raced in a way that suggested that he should be more than capable of handling and indeed improving for 12 furlongs, so has to be taken seriously here; Stablemate equally as progressive so hard to pick but respected in any case.

Sagrarwara: Brushed aside by Beauty Parlour on first start at 2 but took that experience and turned it into good win at Saint Cloud next time; Beaten on return behind Trois Lunes (said to have needed it by trainer) before showing grit and determination to land the Prix Saint Alary at Longchamp; Not been at same form since in two stronger contests and others have to make more appeal here.

Yellow And Green: Off the mark in quite some style when taking Group 2 at Saint Cloud latest (1m4f, good to soft), having made up for allowing Sedicoisa to get first run on her the time beforehand; Likely that neither is actually good enough.

Sedicoisa: Got first run on Yellow and Green when taking the Group 3 Prix Du Royalmont (1m4f, good to soft); This far, far harder.

Princess Highway: Quickened up nicely to land Leopardstown maiden and won competitive Blue Wind Stakes at Naas in good style, although came on leaps and bounds when romping the Ribblesdale (ground given as good to soft but more likely soft); Better on good ground however, and heavy ground Irish Oaks never going to suit so fascinating to see how she goes today; Must have big chance.

Sydara: Pacemaker.

Salomina: Very impressive at the end of the German Oaks (1m3f good) when justifying favouritism and aking her record to 4-4; Same connections came here with Danedream to win Arc so must be taken very seriously anyway; Should go well.

VERDICT: A top class renewal with several horses capable of winning Group 1’s to tackle the two established favourites of Shareta and GALIKOVA, who was impressive when winning this race last year and ran ominously well down in trip when behind Snow Fairy and Izzi Top in the Prix Jean Romanet. Princess Highway is well capable of landing this race and the good ground should help her cause, but LA POMME D’AMOUR makes most appeal of the 3 year olds.