O'Brien confirms his two for the Arc, plus latest on Delacroix Aidan O’Brien confirms his team for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and plans for other major races on the same day. Ballydoyle’s Arc plans and entries Aidan O’Brien confirmed there will be no last-minute changes to his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe plans. Whirl remains on course for the Qatar Prix de l’Opera on the same afternoon, while the door is left open for Delacroix to run at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day. Last year’s third, Los Angeles, has long been earmarked for a return to ParisLongchamp, and Minnie Hauk will be supplemented into the race after her unbeaten season and four consecutive Oaks victories. O’Brien said: “It’s not the plan to supplement any others and it will just be Minnie Hauk at the moment. Delacroix might have been in the Arc, but after the Derby we went back in distance and it wasn’t in the plan for him.” He added: “We felt Whirl would just be very comfortable going back to a mile and a quarter after the Vermeille and obviously we’re trying to split them up a bit really. We didn’t really consider adding a pacemaker, there usually is enough pace in the Arc and both of ours would be very happy being handy.” Delacroix’s future and betting support Delacroix has been one of Ballydoyle’s success stories, landing both the Coral-Eclipse and the Irish Champion Stakes after a disappointing Derby run. The decision on whether he will run again or head to stud is still pending. O’Brien said: “I’m not sure if we’ll see Delacroix at Ascot, but it’s possible. The lads haven’t made up their mind yet and haven’t told us what they want to do. I would imagine it will get a little bit closer to the race and there is a lot of stuff to be thinking about.” Coral have seen continued support for Delacroix in the QEII, where he clashes with Field Of Gold, making him 3-1 second-favourite for the mile event. David Stevens of Coral added: “Delacroix was an 8-1 chance for the QEII last week, and although we don’t yet know whether or not he will race again, his price for the Champions Day race has contracted significantly.” Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe remaining entries: • Giavellotto (Marco Botti) • White Birch (John Joseph Murphy) • Arrow Eagle (Jean-Claude Rouget) • Sosie (Andre Fabre) • Los Angeles (Aidan O’Brien) • Byzantine Dream (Tomoyasu Sakaguchi) • Estrange (David O’Meara) • Quisisana (Francis Graffard) • Kalpana (Andrew Balding) • Aventure (Christophe Ferland) • Daryz (Francis Graffard) • Leffard (Jean-Claude Rouget) • Cualificar (Andre Fabre) • Hotazhell (Jessica Harrington) • Croix Du Nord (Takashi Saito) • Alohi Alii (Hiroyasi Tanaka) • Gezora (Francis Graffard)
