Scandinavia heads into Saturday’s Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp as the star of the show, and his record suggests he belongs there. The Aidan O’Brien-trained superstar is unbeaten in his last eight starts and has already collected five Group 1 wins along the way. Now he takes on Queenstown and Caballo De Mar in the opening fixture of Arc weekend.
Scandinavia’s Record
Scandinavia arrives at ParisLongchamp with a perfect record in recent outings. His last eight runs have all ended in victory, and five of those wins came at the highest level of competition. That kind of consistency commands respect in a field of 10.
Queenstown, ridden by Wayne Lordan, could be the biggest danger. He returned to winning ways with a Group 3 victory at the Curragh in August before finishing behind Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger. Third in this race last year, he has shown he can perform at this level.
Caballo De Mar, the defending Prix du Cadran champion, is back after a comfortable success in the Doncaster Cup. Double Major is the selection at bigger odds.
Sunly and Waardah Lock Horns
The Prix de Royallieu brings together two top fillies in Sunly and Waardah. Both head classy fields, and both have recent form that puts them near the front of the betting.
Sunly, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, skipped the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to target this race. Christophe Soumillon rides, and the pair look short-priced favourites. Waardah comes off a win in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, beating Consent and Cameo in the process.
Thunder Call and Mezcala at Ascot
Ascot hosts its own feature contest on Saturday, with Thunder Call and Mezcala both fancied in a field of 18. The William Haggas-trained Thunder Call handled the step up to seven furlongs last month, while Jack Channon’s Mezcala has been dropped weight for his latest effort.
Several runners have place chances. Hickory is a course specialist, and George Boughey’s Moonfall took the Britannia here and caught the eye at Doncaster.
Other Contenders on the Card
ParisLongchamp offers plenty beyond the headline race. Pierre Bonnard, the son of Camelot, looks the class act in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay. Space Waltz represents the Fabre team, while Amy Murphy’s Victoire Magique goes for a hat-trick.
Wimbledon Hawkeye and Phineas clash in the Prix Dollar, with Phineas having won four on the spin. Fallen Angel and 2025 Sussex Stakes winner Qirat line up to take him on.
Domestic Races
So Regal, trained by John and Thady Gosden, is the pick of the runners for Ascot’s BetMGM British EBF October Stakes. Three-time winner Secret History could be the main threat.
Tuco Salamanca and Regional meet in the BetMGM Rous Stakes, with Al Aasy facing five rivals in the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes. Prince Of India meets Division in the Bengough Stakes, with the latter favourite in the market.
International Races
The day begins with three Group 1 contests from Australia, featuring Sir Delius and Aeliana in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Mandanaba, a Grade 2 runner-up earlier in the campaign, aims to return to the winners’ enclosure in the First Lady Stakes.
Classic Q partners John Velazquez for the step up to Grade 1 company, while And One More Time seeks a hat-trick for Mark Casse. American History returns to action in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.
Purview takes on Ancient Egypt in the Canadian International from Woodbine, before Lake Forest flies the flag for the Haggas stable in the Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland.
The Key Fixture
The Prix du Cadran is the headline act on Day 1 of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting.
| Time | Race | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 4.00 | Prix du Cadran | ParisLongchamp |
| 3.25 | Prix de Royallieu | ParisLongchamp |
| 3.35 | BetMGM Challenge Cup | Ascot |
Key Numbers
- Scandinavia: unbeaten in eight starts, five Group 1 wins
- Prix du Cadran: 10 runners
- Prix de Royallieu: 11 runners, Group 1
- BetMGM Challenge Cup: 18 runners
- Thunder Call: has a tricky draw
- Mezcala: dropped 1lb for his latest sixth at Doncaster
Our View
Scandinavia has the record to justify favouritism, but Group 1 winners are not immune to real tests. Queenstown has proven he can finish second to the best, and Caballo De Mar arrives with a recent win under his belt.
The Prix de Royallieu is a genuine contest between Sunly and Waardah, with Consent and Ribblesdale winner Earth Shot adding depth. At Ascot, Thunder Call handles the step up to seven furlongs, though his draw is tricky.
This is a day for watching the big names. Scandinavia’s sixth Group 1 in the Prix du Cadran is the story to follow, but the day is full of runners worth watching. The racing starts early, and the best of it comes first.
Source material: “Scandinavia seeks sixth Group 1 in Prix du Cadran,” Sky Sports.
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