Last week’s biggest talking point centred on news from France, as France Galop announced a significant change to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Strictly limited to colts, fillies, and mares since the inaugural 1920 edition, the news that geldings would be allowed to contest the great race was not met with unanimous approval.
Closer to home, the big Group 1 action came from the Curragh, with the 2026 editions of the Pretty Polly Stakes and the Irish Derby. The former event saw one of the whitest horses in training land her first Group 1 event and climb a few rungs in the Arc betting market. The latter provided the latest instalment in Aidan O’Brien’s 2026 training masterclass.
Stupid, Unfair, For the Good of the Sport – Mixed Reaction to Arc Decision
There are many prestigious contests on the international racing scene, but when it comes to 1m4f turf contests, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe towers above the rest. “It’s not a race, it’s a monument”, says the tagline of a contest which boasts a sensational roll of honour. Mill Reef, Dancing Brave, Montjeu, and Sea The Stars are among the star colts to have come home in front, with Danedream, Treve, Found, Enable, and Bluestocking flying the flag for the fillies and mares in recent years.
In the long history of the race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe playing field has been restricted to colts, fillies, and mares, with the race organisers keen to maintain the Arc’s status as a maker of stallions and broodmares. However, that is all set to change in 2027, with France Galop announcing that geldings will be permitted to enter for the first time.
Attention surrounding this subject intensified in recent seasons due to the levels of talent displayed by the best of the geldings. Goliath and Calandagan both won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with the latter crowned the Longines World’s Best Racehorse in 2025. Both horses were denied an opportunity to run in the Arc due to their status as geldings.
Supporters of this change point out that the Arc can now truly claim to be a battle between the best of the best, regardless of gender classifications. However, the announcement received a mixed reception from the leading trainers.
As the trainer of both Goliath and Calandagan, it perhaps wasn’t too surprising to hear that Francis-Henri Graffard believes the change is for the good of the sport, with the Chantilly handler stating, “Intergenerational championship races should be open to the best, whether they are colts, fillies or geldings.”
Others expressed their concern. Aidan O’Brien, who famously trained the Arc 1-2-3 in 2016, suggested that geldings may have an unfair advantage: “It’s so much easier to train a gelding in every way so, unfortunately, the reality of it is that there will be an unfair advantage to the geldings in the race now.” The most successful trainer in the history of the race, Andre Fabre, offered his blunt assessment when labelling the change, “a stupid decision.”
Estrange Enters Arc Picture
With the subject of geldings in the Arc featuring heavily in the news, Saturday’s feature from the Curragh saw a talented mare advertise her Arc claims. Hailing from the yard of Yorkshire-based Irishman David O’Meara, and as white as the driven snow, Estrange is among the most striking horses in training. She is also now a Group 1 winner.
Having finished second to Minnie Hauk in the Yorkshire Oaks and filled the same position behind Kalpana on Champions Day, Estrange had her third crack at the top level in Saturday’s Pretty Polly Stakes. While boasting strong form credentials, she looked to face a stiff task in conceding 12lb to the 2026 Epsom Oaks heroine Thundering On.
Passing the 2f pole, Estrange and Thundering On loomed into contention towards the outside, setting up a potentially thrilling finish between the two market leaders. However, while Thundering On wilted, Estrange found another gear to glide into the lead. Moving clear, she never looked like being caught as she posted a classy 1½l success.
Having missed the 2025 Arc due to a temperature, the October showpiece looks like the big target once again for the Night of Thunder filly. Looking ahead to a potential tilt at the Arc, a delighted O’Meara stated, “We’d love to go for it, and she has an entry.” Around 33/1 before the race, Estrange was cut to a general 16/1 following this display.
Benvenuto Bounces Back to Lead Home O’Brien 1-2-3
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Benvenuto Cellini | 7/4F | A P O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Christmas Day | 4/1 | A P O’Brien | Ronan Whelan |
| 3rd | Pierre Bonnard | 9/1 | A P O’Brien | Wayne Lordan |
Twelve years on from his incredible 1-2-3 in the Arc, and only a little over a month after his runners filled the podium in the Prix du Jockey Club, Aidan O’Brien swept the placed positions in the Irish Derby.
Christmas Day arrived as the Epsom Derby champion and sought to follow in the hoofprints of O’Brien’s dual Derby winners, Galileo, High Chaparral, Camelot, Australia, Auguste Rodin, and Lambourne. However, Ryan Moore opted to ride the horse so controversially declared a non-runner at Epsom. Having shot to Derby favouritism following his Chester Vase success, could Benvenuto Cellini bounce back from Epsom disappointment? Epsom Derby seventh and 12th, Pierre Bonnard and Action, completed the O’Brien quartet.
Others to note included Joseph O’Brien’s Epsom Derby third, James J Braddock, and the regally bred Raaheeb from the yard of Lambourn handler Owen Burrows. Both attracted support but, as is so often the case in Irish Classics, this turned into the Aidan O’Brien show.
With Action giving way, having set a fierce gallop, Christmas Day took the lead but was soon overhauled by Ryan Moore and Benvenuto Cellini, who kicked clear for an authoritative 1½-length success. Christmas Day stayed on for second, with Pierre Bonnard completing the O’Brien 1-2-3.
This represented a record-extending 18th win in the Irish Derby for O’Brien. Incredibly, it was also the ninth time he had saddled the 1-2-3 in his home Derby. For the second year in a row, he completes the English, Irish, and French Derby clean sweep, and this time he did it with three different horses. Yet another remarkable record from a truly remarkable trainer.
