Breeders' Cup Challenge events galore on Arc Day

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the key race for the Turf on the first Sunday of October in Paris. The final fields will be declared Friday.

Prix de l’Opera (G1) is a 1 1/4-mile race for Filly & Mare Turf. Frankel filly Nashwa is the one to beat in the race. Aidan O'Brien's horse Tuesday finished fourth in Irish Derby. Joseph O”Brien sends Above the Curve. Ebaiyra and My Astra are also worth a look.

The Platinum Queen is aiming to become the first two-year-old to take the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) since Sigy (1978). She more than held her own in the Nunthorpe ( G1), only run down by standout mare Highfield Princess. A Case of You used his ticket to the Turf Sprint last year, finishing a creditable fifth to Golden Pal at Del Mar.

Ireland has a strong presence in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) and Breeders' Cup Challenge. Aidan O'Brien has Futurity ( G2) winner Aesop's Fables and The Antarctic. Railway (2), Pivotal Trigger and Shartash are likely to make the trip.

Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) – WAYI for Juvenile Fillies Turf ( G1). Ballydoyle’s Never Ending Story, a late-running fourth behind Tahiyra in the Moyglare Stud (1), should improve on the stretch-out to a metric mile in this race. Be Happy steps up in class from her debut victory at Cork, and the Jim Bolger-trained Gan Teorainn was a close second in Weld Park (3). German shipper Habana has beaten males in both of her starts, including a Group 3 at Baden-Baden. Blue Rose Cen exits her first stakes win in Prix d‘Aumale ( 3).

Prix de la Foret (G1) is a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup. Goldikova, Tenebrism, Goldistyle, Homeless Songs, Malavath, Mangoustine, Sacred and Garrus are in the line-up. The race is on Arc Day. It's not part of the Challenge series. The winner of this race goes on to BreedERS' Cups. There are also other races on the same day.