European Road: Beauvatier puts perfect record on line in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

Leading the home team is Beauvatier, a perfect 4-for-4 after scores in the Prix Roland de Chambure and Prix la Rochette (G3) for trainer Yann Barberot. The respective runners-up in those races, Zabiari and Evade, will try to turn the tables. Zabiari has enhanced his credentials in the interim; the Aga Khan homebred comes off a victory in the Prix des Chenes (G3).

The Aidan O’Brien duo of Unquestionable and Henry Adams invade from Ireland. Unquestionable is arguably better than his overall record implies. Debuting in a listed stakes at the Curragh, he placed third, improved next time to dominate a maiden, and just missed in the Railway (G2). Unquestionable subsequently went off as the favorite in the Phoenix (G1), but reared up and hit his head on the gate en route to finishing fourth. Although stablemate Henry Adams is 2-for-2, he captured a relatively weak renewal of the Tyros (G3). 

Thus go-to rider Ryan Moore is on Unquestionable, one of three sons of 2010 Lagardere hero Wootton Bassett in the field, along with Zabiari and Evade. Wootton Bassett’s trainer, Richard Fahey, uses a similar playbook with unbeaten Native American. The York maiden winner arrives fresh off plundering a lucrative sales race at the Irish Champions Festival. 

Boosting the British-based squad are Rosallion, the impressive winner of the Pat Eddery S. who was third in the Champagne (G2) on unsuitably soft going at Doncaster; Ballymount Boy, runner-up in the Richmond (G2) and Acomb (G3); and Newmarket debut winner Jayarebe. German shipper West Man was most recently third in a Group 3 at Baden-Baden.

The Lagardere is carded as Sunday’s first race at 8:15 a.m. (ET). The Arc itself is the fourth race, scheduled for 10:05 a.m. For more analysis, check out the Arc Day coverage on TwinSpires.com, where you can watch and wager.