Archaic French rule likely to cost Elleegant an Arc start

Archaic French rule likely to cost Verry Elleegant an Arc start. She needs two runners ahead of her in the ballot to drop out. The 11-time Group One winner is considered not good enough to contest the race. Her trainer Charlie Appleby decided to bypass the Arc with last year’s Epsom Derby winner Adayar and run instead against Baaeed in Champion Stakes at Ascot later this month. UK racing commentator Matt Chapman tweeted that French officials “have got something hopelessly wrong” if Very Elegeant is balloted from theArc.