Continuing the review of last weekend's racing and the next stop is Longchamp on Sunday for what is called "Arc Trials" day. There are actually three significant races run over the 2400m Grande Piste and the first of these is what is sometimes called the "Fillies' Arc" or the Prix Vermeille which is a Group 1 contest. An intriguing clash of the generations this year with the likes of Diane winner SPARKLING PLENTY, SURVIE, AVENTURE and the Ballydoyle challenger OPERA SINGER up against the older fillies and mares headed by BLUESTOCKING and EMILY UPJOHN. The ground at the end of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris was soft. A typically courageous effort from BLUESTOCKING who battled back to outstay AVENTURE (who at least saved my each way money) with EMILY UPJOHN back to somewhere near her best form in third. The time was 2 minutes 31.93 seconds - a couple of seconds above Standard but that looked decent on the ground and what it wasn't was a typical French race with AVENTURE's pacemaker HALFDAY setting some decent fractions. Indeed, it looked more like a British race and in truth the first three home were close to the pace throughout and nothing came from the back. I thought they were wrong in running BLUESTOCKING in the Juddmonte rather than the Yorkshire Oaks and her limitations at 2000m against the very best such as CITY OF TROY and CALANDAGAN were exposed but at 2400m against her own gender she's very good and if they go to the Arc she'll be there with a serious chance. She'll need to be supplemented but Juddmonte can probably afford it and they know how to win the race with a 2400m filly - ENABLE. AVENTURE ran well in second but for me she didn't quite get home and the strong gallop set by the pacemaker was probably her undoing in the final 150m. I'm not sure if they'll risk her in thre Arc or go for the Opera. EMILY UPJOHN is 50/1 for the Arc and while it's hard to see her winning she has place claims on this effort though the evidence is she'll come up short against the boys (no geldings in the Arc remember). The first three were three lengths ahead of STAY ALERT who made it a 1-3-4 for the older fillies and mares. Ryan Moore has always said he though OPERA SINGER would stay 2400m well but I'm not convinced on this effort though she finished well ahead of SPARKLING PLENTY and SURVIE who were well held and probably not suited by the strong gallop.  The Group 2 Foy was the trial for the older horses. Just five went to post with the favourite CONTINUOUS facing the veteran IRESINE and a hardy perennial in these races, FEED THE FLAME.  Christophe Soumillion was doing rising duties for Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore at The Curragh and he took CONTINUOUS into the lead and at one point looked to be travelling strongly but early in the straight IRESINE went past and ran on well to hold off the late challenge of ZARIR who ran a decent race. IRESINE is a gelding so the likely target is the Champion Stakes at Ascot for which he is 20/1 and remember CIRRUS DES AIGLES gave the great FRANKEL a real fright in the 2012 renewal. CONTINUOUS was disappointing if truth be told and isn't the same horse as he was when fifth in the Arc last year. He's 25/1 for the race. FEED THE FLAME was eased and pulled up 250m out and has been retired to stud though details of where he'll stand and for how much have not yet been made public. The 3-y-o had their trial in the Niel and the ante post favourite for the Arc, LOOK DE VEGA, winner of the Jockey Club, faced an intriguing re-match with SOSIE who was third but went on to beat DELIUS in the Grand Prix de Paris over this course and distance. This was run more as a typical French race with LOOK DE VEGA setting easy fractions up front but when the sprint started at the top of the straight, he had no answer to SOSIE who swept by and galloped strongly to the line beating DELIUS by a length and a half with LOOK DE VEGA well held in third. SOSIE and DELIUS were split by two lengths in the Grand Prix de Paris when first and third (ILLINOIS was third is you want a bit of a collateral form line and ask why JAN BREUGHEL isn't an Arc contender) and this was a length and a half but still convincing, SOSIE is now 4/1 favourite for the Arc and he must have a big chance on this evidence.  DELIUS is 10s and that looks a nice each way play at this stage. LOOK DE VEGA's bubble was well and truly burst and you'd have to ask if he'll even turn up for the Arc. The English raider AMBIENTE FRIENDLY was last and hasn't really rediscovered the form of his Derby second - the race often takes a lot of horses and it may be he's done for the year but could be a nice middle distance campaigner next season. Current UK Ante Post Prices for the Arc de Triomphe - 2400m - October 6th 4/1 SOSIE 6/1 SHIN EMPEROR 13/2 LOOK DE VEGA 8/1 LOS ANGELES 10/1 AL RIFFA, DELIUS 16/1 BAR

From 13,000 miles away, I have to say Polytrack surfaces have become an integral part of racing in England, France and Ireland. We also have Tapeta surfaces and whether that's a route NZ could or should have followed is academic. I've no sense fatalities are an issue or have been since they stopped hurdle racing many years ago. Fields at Dundalk, Chantilly, Kempton and Lingfield are strong especially in the early winter and there seem few trainers unwilling to run juveniles on them in November and December. We've had synthetic surfaces for over 30 years and Polytrack for more than 20 at Lingfield replacing earlier Equitrack and Fibresand surfaces. If this report is correct, the installation of the NZ surfaces seems to have been problematic at best. I sense there's a strain of opinion against racing on synthetic surfaces and that existed both in England, Ireland and France in the early days of the new surfaces but we have multiple Group 1 winners who have run on them and NOTABLE SPEECH, this year's English 2000 Guineas. won the classic on his first experience of racing on grass. All that being said, IF there are or have been serious deficiencies in how the tracks were constructed, they need to be addressed and I imagine Martin Collins and his people have given plenty of guidance on track preparation. Over here, harrowing is a requirement especially in the depths of winter and the harrowing can slow the surface down - we've found rain on the Polytrack surface can make it quicker despite the drainage within the surface fabric. We have had, in the middle of prolonged snowy and frosty spells, meetings put on specifically for jump horses to have a run - the races are called Bumpers for Jumpers - and the surface is deep harrowed to produce something akin to good winter turf rather than the usual which should be like good summer turf. Oddly enough, they also deep harrow in the middle of hot spells as well to ensure the top doesn't dry out too much.

1. Caulfield R1     3,6,14 2. Caulfield R6    5,7,11     3. Caulfield R7     9,10,11     4. Caulfield R8     1,2,3 5. Caulfield R9     4,9,10      6. Randwick R4   1,4,12 7. Randwick R5   2,11,18  BEST BET 8. Randwick R6   1,4,7     BEST BET 9. Randwick R7    6,7,10 10. Randwick R8  6,7,8 Thanks John & Scooby

Pardon My Dust (AUS) 1. Caulfield R1     2,3,14 2. Caulfield R6     1,2,7 3. Caulfield R7    1,5,16    BEST BET 4. Caulfield R8     2,11,12 5. Caulfield R9    2,6,12    BEST BET 6. Randwick R4   3,10,14  7. Randwick R5   1,5,18 8. Randwick R6    4,10,16 9. Randwick R7    3,4,7 10. Randwick R8  3,6,7 Thanks John & Scooby  

1. Caulfield R1 08-11-15 2. Caulfield R6. 06-08-09 3. Caulfield R7. 01-15-16 4. Caulfield R8. 02-06-11 5. Caulfield R9. 02-06-12*BB 6. Randwick R4. 10-12-17 7. Randwick R5. 06-11-14 8. Randwick R6. 01-04-16*BB 9. Randwick R7. 01-02-06 10. Randwick R8 03-06-07 Thanks John

1. Caulfield R1 - 3/8/15 2. Caulfield R6 - 5/11/12 3. Caulfield R7 - 2/13/16 4. Caulfield R8 - 2/10/11 BB 5. Caulfield R9 - 2/4/9 6. Randwick R4 - 6/16/17 7. Randwick R5 - 7/11/18 8. Randwick R6 -  4/8/10 9. Randwick R7 -  1/5/6  10. Randwick R8 -  6/7/8 BB No easier this week - thanks for the comp guys. 

1. Caulfield R1. 5-8-13 2. Caulfield R6. 2-8-11 3. Caulfield R7. 9-11-15.  4. Caulfield R8. 2-11-13 5. Caulfield R9. 4-5-12 6. Randwick R4. 6-10-12 7. Randwick R5. 6-11-18 8. Randwick R6. 1-2-4 9. Randwick R7. 3-5-6 Best 10. Randwick R8. 6-7-8 Best   Thanks team! Tip Alexandra Park R10 Frisco Bay

Yes but its not my place or my  right to say who or what

So who was it???You seem to know???

It would be good to see actual stats re injuries, fatalities rather than anecdotal stuff. Presumably there is a more complete report which includes evidence and data?

They must be sweating 😅😅

1. Caulfield R1.             3, 8, 14 2. Caulfield R6.             6, 8, 11 3. Caulfield R7.             2, 15, 16 4. Caulfield R8.             2, 7, 13 5. Caulfield R9.             2, 4, 10 6. Randwick R4.           10, 12, 14 7. Randwick R5.           6, 11, 12 8. Randwick R6.           1, 2, 8 9. Randwick R7.           1, 2, 6    BEST BET 10. Randwick R8.         2, 6, 7    BEST BET

It may have been more respectful if it hadnt be mention at  this time and certainly not two minutes before the last race race 

Dujardin has just returned to the Te Akau stables at Matamata this week after spelling at their farm.

No, but if someone can elaborate 

Agree 1000% Janitor. Harness link did a we story on her. She's going to be out for a we while yet by the sounds of things. It Said she is frustrated watching her drives go around . Not allowed to drive a car and walks to track everyday to her father's stables. Re Geurin and co...best say nout

Ropable?Thousands of fans?  Hyperbole your mantra Janitor? Have you thought she may be happiest healing in privacy, not subjected to examination by some of the Loons on here? Just saying.

Well Mark Jones put an article out and I agree with him 100%. Worth a read!

I don't have any info but if I find anything out I'll post it on here.

Blaird We have you down for Lot 47  the HYM filly out of Equestrienne bought by DCE for $240 K and now called DUJARDIN.  ( Also chosen by Nerula,, Ohakaman, Pheroz,) Some very good judges in that lot. Do you have any news about her or where she is ?