European Road: Irish shippers loom large in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Sep 30, 2022
Sunday’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) kicks off “Arc Day” at ParisLongchamp, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) the focal point of a fantastic card. The Lagardere is a scoring opportunity on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, offering points on the 10-4-3-2-1 scale to the top five, as well as a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
Irish shippers The Antarctic and Shartash are topping the betting market.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained The Antarctic wheels back after finishing second in the Sept. 24 Middle Park (G1) at Newmarket. A full brother to the magnificent sprinter Battaash, The Antarctic captured the Prix de Cabourg (G3) at Deauville in August prior to a third in the Prix Morny (G1) at the same track. The step up to about seven furlongs is a question mark.
The Aga Khan’s homebred Shartash exits a third in the Vincent O’Brien National (G1) at this distance at the Curragh. Trained by former jockey Johnny Murtagh, he scored his biggest win in the Railway (G2) on Irish Derby Day and finished a distant third in the Phoenix (G1).
Also invading from Ireland is Pivotal Trigger, most recently third in the Prix des Chenes (G3) going a metric mile here. The slight cutback could help the Jessica Harrington pupil, who broke his maiden over seven furlongs at Galway.
The filly Tigrais leads the home team after upsetting Breizh Sky in the course-and-distance Prix la Rochette (G3). Breizh Sky was the odds-on favorite that day, as the previously unbeaten winner of the Prix Roland de Chambure. Gamestop, third in the la Rochette off a two-month holiday, might move forward from that effort.
Vicious Harray has placed in four straight stakes, including the July 17 Prix Robert Papin (G2) where The Antarctic was runner-up and he was third. Prix du Bois (G3) winner Belbek, fourth in the Papin, was last seen finishing fifth to The Antarctic in the Prix de Cabourg. Both Vicious Harray and Belbek are trying this distance for the first time.
The Lagardere is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. (ET) Sunday morning, and you can watch and wager on all the Arc weekend action at TwinSpires.com.
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