Fans of top-class racing action are well catered for this weekend, with Group 1 contests on offer from Britain, Germany, and France. The sprinters grab the spotlight in the Haydock Sprint Cup on Saturday afternoon, while Sunday sees a heavyweight clash between Goliath and Rebel’s Romance in the Grosser Preis von Baden.
The British and German events are not to be missed, but the best of the weekend cards arrives in the shape of Arc Trials Day from Longchamp on Sunday afternoon. As ever, the Prix Vermeille, Prix Niel, and Prix Foy have attracted a host of contenders with realistic claims of landing the £4m+ prize in October, including the second, third, and fourth from the 2024 edition of the great race.
While punters will have their notebooks at the ready for the three trials, the pick of the Parisian events may be a race unlikely to have any impact at all on the Arc betting markets.
Stellar Cast Assembles in Prix du Moulin
Held over the one-mile trip, the £661,157 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp attracts a different seam of talent than the track’s most famous event. First run in 1957 and open to runners aged three and above, the Prix du Moulin has fallen to a selection of all-time greats, including Miesque (1987), Kingmambo (1993), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Goldikova (2008), and Baeed (2021).
A round dozen heads to Longchamp in 2025, all bidding to add their name to that illustrious roll of honour, including eight stars familiar to British and Irish racing fans.
Rosallion
The 2024 Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner has endured a frustrating time in 2025. Third in the Lockinge Stakes, second in the Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes, and only fourth in the City Of York Stakes, the sequence of defeats is beginning to stack up. On the plus side, his only previous visit to France resulted in an impressive victory in the 2023 edition of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Henri Matisse
The pick of three Aidan O’Brien-trained runners in the field, Henri Matisse has the services of Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon in the saddle. Successful in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile, he later added the French 2,000 Guineas at this track to his haul.
Last sighted finishing third in an unusual edition of the Sussex Stakes, he has strong claims for a trainer who claimed the 2002 and 2019 editions of this race.
Dancing Gemini
Representing Roger Teal and Lambourn, Dancing Gemini has featured regularly in events such as this since making his debut in 2023. He’s yet to strike at the highest level but lost out by just a neck in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury this year and finished a close second in the 2024 edition of the French 2,000 Guineas.
Lead Artist
Surprisingly, given his success in the mile division, John Gosden has yet to add the Prix Moulin to his glittering CV. Perhaps Lead Artist could be the horse to put that right. Eighth of eight in the bet365 Mile and seventh of ten in the Queen Anne, consistency isn’t his strong suit. However, he showed what he could do when storming home late to deny Dancing Gemini in the Lockinge Stakes.
The Lion In Winter
If the pre-season hype were to be believed, the Lion In Winter would be arriving at Longchamp as the 2025 Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas champ. Instead, he missed the Guineas altogether and bombed out in the Derby. A third-place effort in the Prix Jean Prat offered hope, but he backed that up with a desperate display in the Prix Jacques Le Marois last time. Overall, this Aidan O’Brien runner is one of the biggest disappointments of the 2025 campaign.
Quddwah
Lightly raced for one his age, this Simon & Ed Crisford-trained five-year-old has won six of nine starts, including five over the one-mile trip. However, his three defeats have come in his only three outings in Group 1 company.
Persica
The second Richard Hannon runner in the line-up has improved as a four-year-old, picking up career best wins in the Group 3 duo of the Earl Of Sefton Stakes and Diomed Stakes.
However, much like Quddwah, a zero from three record in Group 1 company suggests he isn’t quite up to this level.
Serengeti
Yet to finish in the frame in 2025, the third O’Brien runner is surely only in the line-up to help ensure a strong pace. That tactic didn’t stop Qirat springing a 150/1 shock in the Sussex Stakes, but Serengeti rates an equally unlikely winner.
Alcantor, Marhaba Ya Sanafi, and Sahlan fly the flag for the home team, whilst the international flavour is enhanced by Japanese raider Go To First. The British and Irish contingent possess the strongest form claims, but will that play out on the track at 2:50 pm on Sunday?
