Scandinavia steps onto the track alongside Queenstown and Caballo De Mar as the Arc weekend kicks off, with live coverage on Sky Sports Racing. The celebrated stayer Scandinavia headlines Day 1 of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting, leading a ten‑horse field in the prestigious Prix du Cadran.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the unbeaten champion arrives on the back of eight consecutive victories, five of which were Group 1 wins, and appears virtually unbeatable as he stretches out once more over the extended distance. Among the main challengers is stablemate Queenstown, piloted by Wayne Lordan. Queenstown returned in August with a dominant Group 3 win at the Curragh and later finished a close second to Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger.
After placing third in this race last year, he is poised to test the odds again and could potentially upset the favorite. Defending champion Caballo De Mar, owned by George Scott, also remains a threat after rebounding with a comfortable victory in the Doncaster Cup. Meanwhile, the outsider Double Major offers value at longer odds and could prove a surprise factor. The Group 1 Prix de Royallieu features a classy duo in Sunly and Wardaah, part of an eleven‑horse field.
Francis‑Henri Graffard bypassed the Arc in favor of this contest, placing his filly Sunly at short odds to claim her first top‑level win under jockey Christophe Soumillon. Sunly’s stamina should serve her well over the extended trip, potentially allowing her to dominate the competition.
Wardaah, fresh from a win in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster where she beat Consent and Cameo, looks ready to step up to a higher grade. Consent, the previous year’s winner after beating Santorini Star, has shown steady improvement, finishing fourth at Goodwood and third at Doncaster this season. Ribblesdale Stakes victor Earth Shot also adds depth to the field, making for an intriguing showdown among proven stayers. In the BetMGM Challenge Cup, a highly competitive race is set with Thunder Call and Mezcala among the 18 runners.
Thunder Call, trained by William Haggas, demonstrated his ability to handle seven furlongs last month, easily dispatching a solid field despite drawing the inside stall. Jockey Jack Channon will ride Mezcala, who captured the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting and has been given a weight allowance for his upcoming sixth start at Doncaster.
Course specialist Hickory, as well as George Boughey’s Moonfall—who impressed at Doncaster—are also in the mix, each hoping to prove they can handle the dip to seven furlongs. Turning to the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at 12:23 pm, Pierre Bonnard, a son of Camelot, seeks redemption after a disappointing St Leger run. Bonnard was only two lengths behind Arc hopeful Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur and is expected to be the class act of the field.
Opponents include Space Waltz from the formidable Fabre stable and Victoire Magique, who is targeting a third consecutive win under jockey Amy Murphy. The subsequent Group 2 Prix Dollar pits Wimbledon Hawkeye against Phineas. Hawkeye was arguably unlucky in the Irish Champion Stakes, while Phineas, a four‑time winner, represents the talent-rich Fabre operation. Distant Storm, representing Charlie Appleby and Godolphin after a recent Deauville victory, also lines up, adding further intrigue.
At 4:35 pm, the Prix Daniel Wildenstein sees Quddwah leading a strong contingent, with Fallen Angel and 2025 Sussex Stakes winner Qirat also in contention. In the 1:15 pm BetMGM British EBF October Stakes at Ascot, John and Thady Gosden’s So Regal is the favorite after a respectable Group 3 performance, though three‑time winner Secret History could pose a serious challenge despite a sub‑optimal run in a competitive York handicap. Sky Sports Racing continues to deliver the latest horse racing news, interviews, and features on mobile devices, ensuring fans stay informed. The early afternoon features the BetMGM Rous Stakes at 1:50 pm, where Tuco Salamanca meets Regional over five furlongs, followed by the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes at 2:25 pm, where crowd‑pleaser Al Aasy faces five rivals.
Al Aasy demonstrated grit by beating Chestnut Rocket—who is slated for Sunday’s Arc—at Deauville in his last outing. At 3:00 pm, the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes showcases a clash between Prince Of India and Division, with Division currently favored after a narrow defeat by Samangan in France. Meanwhile, the Fontwell and Southwell courses open their gates for a combined program of jumps and flat racing, offering fifteen races between the two venues. The day opens internationally with three Group 1 contests from Australia.
Sir Delius and Aeliana compete in Flemington’s 7:25 am Turnball Stakes after earlier top‑level clashes at Randwick. In a Grade 2 return, Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Mandanaba aims for a win in the 9:44 pm First Lady Stakes.
Classic Q, partnered with John Velazquez, steps up to Grade 1 company, while stablemate And One More Time seeks a third victory for trainer Mark Casse. American History, who burst onto the scene with an eight‑length debut, returns under Todd Pletcher in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity—a Grade 1 event for two‑year‑olds—offering a glimpse of potential future stardom.
In Canada, Purview faces Ancient Egypt in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine, before the focus shifts back to the United States for Keeneland’s Coolmore Turf Mile. Lake Forest carries the Haggas colors in this race, with Cieren Fallon aboard, rounding out a day packed with high‑stakes action across continents.