Racing: Sea The Stars features among 24 horses remaining in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday at the latest forfeit stage. Aidan O'Brien still has plenty of options as he bids to topple John Oxx's brilliant colt for the first time this season, with Fame And Glory among six Ballydoyle entries, as is four-time Gold Cup hero Yeats.
Michael Stoute has left in Spanish Moon and Conduit, while Dar Re Mi has as expected also been left in the contest.
Mick Channon’s Youmzain and the Roger Teal-trained Steele Tango are the other British contenders, while the likes of Vision D’Etat and Getaway are other possibles.
There is a second forfeit stage on Wednesday while horses can be supplemented at the declaration stage on Thursday at a cost of €100,000.
Olivier Peslier will get the leg up on Vision D’Etat as he bids to win the Arc for the fourth time in his illustrious career. The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner was beaten into second on his latest outing in the Prix Foy but Peslier feels there is more to come.
“I have won the Arc three times and hopefully now I can win it for a fourth time,” Peslier said.
“My horse Vision D’Etat is very well and is working well so he has a chance but the horse to beat is Sea The Stars. When he went to Ascot he won very well but last time in his trial he was not 100 per cent as the big day is the Arc.
“He still galloped well and fought well to finish second but after he had a little holiday as he was a little stiff and now he is better.
“If there is a little bit of rain that would be a big help for him but he has a good chance to get a place.”