Hurricane Down But Not Out

Hurricane Run was left clinging on to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favouritism at 5-2 with Ladbrokes and Coral after meeting with a narrow defeat at the hands of stablemate Shirocco on a fascinating afternoon at Longchamp.

Last year's Arc hero went down by a neck under Kieren Fallon, with the mare Pride the same distance back in third in what was a tactical Prix Foy.

VC Bet and William Hill make the Andre Fabre-trained pair joint-favourites at 3-1 and 11-4 respectively, with bet365 promoting Shirocco to outright market leader at 5-2.

But Fallon was not too despondent and is hopeful of reversing the form back in Paris on October 1.

'I would have been happy if we'd won, but I knew he would struggle as he doesn't like small fields,' Fallon said.

'But he showed in the King George that when it comes to big races he raises his game.'

Fabre added: 'He was a bit fitter than last year as he had run in the summer. However, the ground will be different in three weeks and that could change things.'

Connections of Shirocco could hardly have been more pleased, however, and neither could rider Christophe Soumillon, who partnered another four winners on the card.

'He's won his trial so where else would you go with a horse like this?' said Paul Harley, racing manager to owner Baron Georg von Ullmann.

'He's very good and it was a gutsy performance but none of them had a hard race, that is clear. We just hope now that everything goes well over the next three weeks.'

Soumillon has now partnered Shirocco for his last four victories but as the jockey is retained by the Aga Khan, he may be claimed to ride Mandesha, who won the Prix Vermeille in great style.

'We'll just have to wait and see what happens with Christophe,' Harley said.

'If he's free obviously we'll be delighted, if not there are plenty of good jockeys going free. Frankie Dettori for example, so we'll see.

'As far as I'm concerned Christophe is going to ride him, but I'm sure plenty of good jockeys would make themselves available for Shirocco.'

If all goes well in the Arc, the German-bred entire is all set to travel over to America again in search of a second Breeders' Cup triumph. But this time a tilt at the Classic could be on the cards.

'There hasn't really been a change of plan, we are just keeping our options open and we fancy a crack at the Classic,' said Harley.

'It's worth a lot of money, a lot of good horses have won the Classic and Mr Fabre has won it in the past so he knows what it takes to win it.

'It's only an option though, nothing has been decided. It is being considered but at this stage we only have eyes for a race in three weeks' time.'

Mandesha ran out a very convincing winner of the Vermeille for Soumillon and Alain De Royer-Dupre.

The three-year-old filly, owned by the Aga Khan's daughter, Princess Zahra, was never in any danger and could now be supplemented for the Arc.

The Aga Khan said: 'We went for the Vermeille instead of the Prix de l'Opera and it has paid off.

'We will look at the sectional times before deciding if she will run in the Arc. She gave us the feeling that she was right for the race, hence we chose to run today.

'It's a very nice problem to have (whether to supplement for the Arc).'

When asked whether he would require Soumillon's services for the filly on Arc day, he said: 'There is a contract.'

The final Arc trial, the Prix Niel, was won in gutsy fashion by Rail Link for the Fabre-Soumillon combination.

The son of Dansili held off Mick Channon's Youmzain in a driving finish and further strengthens Fabre's Arc challenge.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to winning owner Khalid Abdullah, said: 'I will have to talk to the Prince and Andre before we commit to the Arc, but he's done it nicely and he deserves his chance.'

There was English success in the Group Three Prix du Petit for Willie Haggas' Majestic Missile, also partnered by Soumillon.

Settled just off the pace set by Fallon on Peace Offering, Soumillon kicked his mount clear inside the final furlong for an impressive victory.

Haggas told Racing UK: 'He's been very disappointing this year but I was thrilled today. He came good at this time last year, he won the Scarborough Stakes at Doncaster and he looked terrific yesterday when he left.

'This was his last chance today, if he didn't win he was going to be retired. I guess we'll go for the Prix de l'Abbaye now.'

Franklins Gardens ran in the Prix Gladiateur but faded quickly in the straight and finished seventh as Le Miracle, ridden by Dominic Boeuf, continued on the upgrade to win in great style.

(C) PA Sport