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 is the marquee attraction for 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 with an impressive record: eight consecutive starts without a loss and five Group 1 triumphs to his name, making him the overwhelming favourite as the race distance stretches even further. His stablemate Queenstown, ridden by Wayne Lordan, is the most likely challenger.
After securing a dominant Group 3 win at the Curragh in August and then finishing a close second to Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger, Queenstown proved he can stay the distance. He was third in the same race last year and could well repeat that performance, aiming to close the gap on his illustrious teammate. Defending champion Caballo De Mar, trained by George Scott, remains in contention after rebounding with an easy victory in the Doncaster Cup.
Meanwhile, the outsider Double Major offers value at longer odds, promising a potential upset for punters seeking a bigger return. In the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu, the field of eleven features the elegant duo Sunly and Wardaah. Francis‑Henri Graffard has bypassed the Arc to target this race, placing Sunly under the skilled hands of Christophe Soumillon. Sunly is a short‑priced contender for her first top‑level win and could dominate if she handles the extended trip.
Wardaah, fresh from a Park Hill Stakes victory at Doncaster where she beat Consent and Cameo, looks ready to test herself at a higher grade. Consent, the previous year’s winner after edging out Santorini Star, has shown steady improvement, finishing fourth at Goodwood and third at Doncaster. She appears to be on an upward trajectory with each run. Another strong prospect is Earth Shot, a Ribblesdale Stakes winner, who adds depth to an already stellar lineup.
The BetMGM Challenge Cup promises a fiercely contested sprint over seven furlongs with eighteen runners. Thunder Call, trained by William Haggas, demonstrated his ability to step up in distance by easily dispatching a solid field last month, despite drawing the difficult stall one. He is expected to deliver another strong performance. Mezcala, piloted by Jack Channon, captured the Buckingham Palace Stakes over the same distance at the Royal meeting and has been assigned a lighter weight for his upcoming sixth start at Doncaster, enhancing his chances.
Course specialist Hickory also merits consideration, while George Boughey’s Moonfall, fresh from a Britannia win, must prove he can handle the reduction to seven furlongs. Turning to the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at 12:23 pm, Pierre Bonnard will look to rebound after a disappointing run in the St Leger.
The son of Camelot was only two lengths behind Arc hopeful Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur, marking him as the class act in the field. Opponents include Space Waltz from the formidable Fabre stable and Victoire Magique, who is seeking a third consecutive win under Amy Murphy. The subsequent Group 2 Prix Dollar pits Wimbledon Hawkeye against Phineas. Wimbledon Hawkeye was arguably unlucky in the Irish Champion Stakes, while Phineas, a four‑time winner, is a rising star for the Fabre operation.
Distant Storm, representing Charlie Appleby and Godolphin after a recent Deauville success, also lines up. At 4:35 pm, the Prix Daniel Wildenstein features Quddwah as the leading contender, with Fallen Angel and 2025 Sussex Stakes victor Qirat joining the fray. The BetMGM British EBF October Stakes at Ascot, scheduled for 1:15 pm, sees So Regal, trained by John and Thady Gosden, as the standout.
So Regal has shown promise in Group 3 company and could capitalize on the field. Secret History, a three‑time winner, may pose the biggest threat despite a sub‑optimal run in a competitive York handicap in August.
Sky Sports Racing continues to deliver the latest racing news, interviews, and features, all accessible on mobile devices. Later in the day, the five‑furlong BetMGM Rous Stakes at 1:50 pm will feature a clash between Tuco Salamanca and Regional, while crowd‑pleaser Al Aasy faces five rivals in the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes at 2:25 pm. Al Aasy displayed grit in a recent Deauville meeting, overcoming Chestnut Rocket—who is slated for Sunday’s Arc.
At 3:00 pm, the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes showcases Prince Of India against Division, with Division currently favored after a narrow defeat to Samangan in France. The weekend’s action also spreads to Fontwell and Southwell, where both jumps and flat races will be contested across fifteen meetings. The day opens with three Australian Group 1 contests, featuring Sir Delius and Aeliana in Flemington’s 7:25 am Turnball Stakes, following earlier clashes at Randwick. Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Mandanaba, a Grade 2 runner‑up earlier in the season, aims to return to the winner’s enclosure 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 consecutive victory for trainer Mark Casse. In the United States, Todd Pletcher’s American History, who burst onto the scene with an eight‑length debut win, returns in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, a Grade 1 event for two‑year‑olds. Purview will face Ancient Egypt in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine before the focus shifts back to the U.S.
for Keeneland’s Coolmore Turf Mile. Lake Forest represents the Haggas stable in that race, with Cieren Fallon aboard.
Overall, the Arc weekend promises a blend of established champions, emerging talent, and intriguing match‑ups across a variety of distances and surfaces, offering racing enthusiasts a packed schedule of high‑quality competition and plenty of betting opportunities.