Bago Bids For Arc Double

Connections of Bago have high hopes the colt can become the first horse in 27 years to register successive victories in the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe.

The last horse to achieve the feat was the Vincent O´Brien-trained Alleged, who took the mile-and-a-half French showpiece in 1977 and `78.

Bago beat Cherry Mix by half a length in the Group One contest at Longchamp last season but apart from taking the Prix Ganay at the start of the year, he has failed to sparkle in his summer campaign.

The four-year-old was last seen when finishing third in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes but Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos family, believes the son of Nashwan is now hitting top gear.

'Jonathan is happy with him and all his horses are coming in to form at the moment, which is pleasing,' said Cooper.

'A year on from his first Arc he is more mature physically and mentally.'

Cooper admitted Bago´s early season form had not been what they had hoped for but he is anticipating a better show in Sunday´s event.

'He put in two below-par performances, especially in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (when he finished third behind Alkaased who reopposes on Sunday) but then we discovered he had a back complaint.

'We were also a little disappointed that he didn´t have more of a spark in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, though he did run better there.'

Bago is a general 6-1 shot for the Arc while the Andre Fabre-trained Hurricane Run is the 5-2 market leader with top filly Shawanda next best on 11-4.

(C) PA Sport