Arc Still The Aim For Azamour

John Oxx is hoping Azamour will still make the line up for next month´s Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

The four-year-old strained a muscle in his quarters when finishing fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes last Saturday, putting into doubt his participation in the French showpiece.

Although Oxx admits it remains 'touch and go' whether Azamour is ready for the October 2 event, he reports the Night Shift colt to be progressing nicely.

He told At The Races: 'He´s OK and has responded well (to treatment) in the last couple of days.

'He´s been ridden out and had a quiet canter in the last couple of days and he´s perfectly sound. We just have to keep treating the problem area and hope we can get him into fast work by the end of next week.

'It could be touch and go (for the Arc) but we were pleased with him in the last couple of days.

'The horse is sound so it´s not a muscle rupture or a tear, it´s just a strain so that´s a different ball game and he could, with appropriate treatment, recover fairly quickly.

'We still have our eye on the Arc but until we get him back into fast work, we can´t be 100 per cent. It looks feasible at the moment.'

Azamour had notched up a Group One double in the Prince of Wales´s Stakes and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, before meeting with defeat at Leopardstown.

Although the Arc is still a target, the 10-furlong Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on October 15 and the Breeders´ Cup Turf at Belmont Park on October 29 also enter the equation.

'The Breeders´ Cup Turf has been in our mind and I suppose that´s plan A but obviously the Champion Stakes is an alternative should we change plan,' added Oxx.

Azamour is 8-1 with William Hill for the Arc, while he is 5-1 with the same firm for the American race.

(C) PA Sport