Hollie Doyle, who will be aboard Maltese Cross for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, has just published an exclusive blog ahead of the festival. She explains why she is riding the colt and how the connections—jockey Tom Marquand, trainer William Haggas and owner George Waud—have a genuine shot at clinching one of the sport's most prestigious prizes. Maltese Cross has already shown flashes of brilliance this season, but Doyle believes his best performance is still to come.
Victories in the Grand Prix de Paris and a strong showing in the Great Voltigeur at York hinted at his potential, yet both races also revealed that the three‑year‑old can be a little rough around the edges. "He took a bit of a pounding in those two contests, but his mental maturity for his age is impressive," she writes.
"That composure should serve him well when the Arc’s chaos erupts, especially from an outside draw like stall 11." The defending champion, Daryz, will pose a formidable challenge. Trained by Francis‑Henri Graffard, the 2023 winner enjoys a favourable draw and appears to have been meticulously prepared for a repeat victory. Still, Doyle points out that Maltese Cross’s sole defeat came on softer ground in the Derby, suggesting that on firm French turf he could be a serious threat to every rival. She also highlights the British filly Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding, as a contender worth watching.
Kalpana proved she can hang with the best males after capturing the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and then delivering a solid effort in the Yorkshire Oaks. "If she can replicate that form, she could be a game‑changer," Doyle notes. Turning to the younger fillies, Doyle discusses Green Empress, who is set to contest the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches over 12½ furlongs. The filly was outclassed by the prolific Sun Goddess in the Moyglare Stakes, but Doyle believes any weaknesses could be exposed by Godolphin’s Miss Miniver, a horse she describes as "interesting" and potentially capable of capitalising on any lapses.
She also mentions Allela, a market rival of Green Empress, noting that trainer Roger Varian is eager to see his Wootton Bassett daughter bounce back after a fourth‑place finish in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket. "This could be a golden chance to snap up a relatively weak Group 1," Doyle writes. In the sprint division, Joseph O'Brien’s Folsom Blues is slated for the Qatar Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère Longines. The Blue Point son was beaten only by Sun Goddess in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, then rebounded with a dominant win in the Group 1 National Stakes.
Although his draw is far from ideal, Doyle trusts his class will overcome any positional disadvantage. She also flags James Doyle’s Imperial Strike as potentially over‑valued, especially when compared with the unbeaten Avec Toi. The long‑distance contest, the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines, could see Naana's Shadow, trained by Katie Scott, deliver a memorable performance for the Galashiels‑based trainer. Scott, who operates a modest stable, has nurtured the grey filly into a Group 3 winner over the same distance and surface.
While the filly draws stall 13 on a track that often favours inside positions, Doyle believes Francis‑Henri Graffard’s SHIRI may overturn the form, and she also keeps an eye on Harry Eustace’s Time For Sandals, whose talent could bring her back to peak condition. Aventure, a Group 1 winner in the Prix Romanet, will attempt to add another top‑level triumph in the Prix de l'Opéra Longines. Christophe Ferland’s mare beat a sub‑par Diamond Necklace, leaving some uncertainty about the quality of that win. Doyle prefers Aidan O'Brien’s Precise, who has not won since the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot but previously performed admirably against elite competition.
"She looks stronger than her recent Matron run suggested and could be a solid alternative to the favourite," Doyle asserts, noting that the ever‑consistent Pink Panthera is also likely to secure a placing. In the Qatar Prix de la Forêt, Fozzy Stack hopes to deliver an Irish victory with Thesecretadversary, a horse that should settle into a comfortable rhythm on a course that suits his strengths. The Jersey Stakes winner, stepping back in trip, offers value against the favourite Samangan, who only managed a narrow win at Deauville. Aidan O'Brien’s True Love, after a lacklustre fifth place in the Matron, could also benefit from a shorter distance and deliver a respectable effort.
Back at Ascot, William Haggas, who will see Maltese Cross contest the Arc, also has two feature races on Saturday. In the Group 3 Bet MGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes, veteran Al Aasy is the class act to beat, having already secured a higher‑level victory this year and pairing well with jockey Danny Tudhope. Stablemate Tenability, a tough competitor who won the Listed August Stakes, looks progressive but must step up to challenge Al Aasy. The John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes will feature Division, who narrowly missed the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, and William Haggas’s Wathnan Racing colt, whose chances could be compromised by a slow start.
Nevertheless, the race presents a prime opportunity for a Group 3 win. Potential spoilers include Godolphin’s Hidden Force, who has undergone wind‑pipe surgery after a runner‑up finish in the Craven Stakes, and Marco Botti’s Prince Of India, fresh from a Listed triumph at Newmarket. Doyle concluded her interview with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft by urging fans to tune in for the full Autumn Racing Weekend at Ascot, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing on both Friday and Saturday.