Bow Echo's shock retirement appeared to have cost George Boughey his chance of group 1 glory at ParisLongchamp Racecourse this weekend, but such is the impression Survie has made since her return from grade 1 glory in America that he has changed her plans.
The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) Sept. 6 had been suggested as a potential steppingstone to the Breeders' Cup for the best horse Boughey had ever trained, but the trainer will now head to Paris with his sights set on the Prix Vermeille (G1) with Survie.
The 5-year-old was last seen reeling off back-to-back wins at Saratoga Race Course, taking the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) before producing a brilliant last-to-first finish in the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (G1T) to claim her first success at the highest level.
After that scintillating performance, Survie was expected to be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Oct. 31 at Keeneland, but the mare has delighted her trainer since returning to Newmarket and will instead make her third attempt in top-level company this season on Arc Trials day before heading back to America.
"I was keen after the Clement to go straight to the Breeders' Cup," Boughey said. "But the way that she's come back, I couldn't be happier with her. She's a course-and-distance winner at Longchamp on slow ground, and we obviously know she handles faster ground. It presents a good opportunity to see her again before she goes back to America.
"Even after the long journey back from America, she breezed yesterday morning and was as well as we've ever seen her work. She was mad fresh this morning, and we're all systems go for the weekend."
Sparan Nua will seek to step up a place after her narrow defeat to Kalpana in the Yorkshire Oaks Stakes (G1) when reappearing in the Prix Vermeille. Rossa Ryan maintains the partnership with the Jim Bolger-trained filly.
The race is well stocked with British and Irish runners, including the John and Thady Gosden-trained Friendly Soul, who is still seeking her first win this season but has improved position with every start after returning from a 17-month layoff in May, including a last-out second to Diamond Necklace in the Nassau Stakes (G1). Though this will be her first start at the 1 1/2-mile distance, she does hold a victory at the course having won the Prix de l'Opera (G1) in 2024.
Charlie Appleby has declared Romantic Symphony, having supplemented the recent Deauville group 3 winner at a cost of €43,200 this week.
Colin Keane rides the Juddmonte-owned Sunly, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, and Prix de Diane (G1) second Pink Panthera is another leading French contender.
Daryz Headlines Prix Foy
Last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Daryz will showcase his credentials for a repeat bid next month when lining up in the Prix Foy (G2) Sunday at ParisLongchamp.
Daryz heads the Arc betting at a general 3-1 having beaten Minnie Hauk by a head in last year's running.
The Graffard-trained 4-year-old, who races in the silks of the Aga Khan, started this campaign with wins in the Prix Ganay (G1) and Prix Aga Khan IV (formerly the Prix d'Ispahan, G1) at ParisLongchamp before finishing third to Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
This will be his first start since June and he takes on the George Scott-trained Bay City Roller, who sidestepped the September Stakes (G3) Sept. 5 at Kempton Park in favor of this group 2.
The Victorious Forever-owned colt gained a first domestic group 1 when running out a 10-length winner of the Coronation Cup Stakes (G1) in June on Derby day at Epsom Downs Racecourse. He is the mount of Oisin Murphy on his first start since and a 14-1 shot for the Arc.
The Prix Foy field is completed by listed winners Quest for Magic and Uthred, who races for top French footballer Antoine Griezmann.
Waldgeist was the most recent horse to complete the Prix Foy-Arc double in 2019.
Three-Year-Olds Vie In Prix Niel
Irish Derby (G1) winner Benvenuto Cellini heads a field of seven 3-year-olds in the Prix Niel (G2).
The 3-year-old was last seen finishing third behind Kalpana in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in July at Ascot Racecourse and is a standout 20-1 for the Arc with Coral.
Aidan O'Brien also runs Montreal, who was a beaten 11-10 favorite when fourth of five in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (G2) at Deauville Racecourse last month.
Alam and Varandir, the third and fourth behind Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) in July at ParisLongchamp, head the home challenge.
