Yorker was beaten in Listed company at Sandown last time and doubts remain if the Haggas gelding is quite up to this level. But James Fanshawe’s Arthenus made no mistake in Listed company at Saint-Cloud and his earlier second to New Bay at Deauville was a good effort, but ZARAK is the one to beat in this. Only fourth dropped back in trip for the Prix Du Moulin last time, he was runner-up in the French Derby here in June to subsequent Irish Champion Stakes winner Almanzor and makes plenty of appeal on that form. Last year’s winner of this at Longchamp, Free Port Lux has yet to reproduce that effort and Group 2 winner Heshem and the German raider Potemkin are preferred.
Arthenus (9-4) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f stks in Sep beating First Sitting (8-13) by 1l, 8 ran.
Heshem (IRE) (9-2) 7th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Almanzor (9-2) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 2 stks gd in Aug.
Potemkin (GER) 10-11 (9-2) 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Va Bank (9-0) at Baden-Baden 1m 2f Grp 3 stks in Aug.
Meandre (FR) (9-4) last of 2, 3 1/2l behind Always On Sunday (9-4) at Velka Chuchle 1m 6f in Sep.
Yorker (SAF) 7-4fav (9-4) Taken to post early, tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 8, nk behind Quebee (8-8) at Sandown 1m lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Free Port Lux (9-4) 7th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Air Pilot (8-11) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 3 sft in Jun.
Zarak (FR) (8-12) 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Vadamos (9-3) at Chantilly 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Sep.
Flanders Flame (8-10) 2nd of 8, 1l behind Fourioso (8-10) at San Sebastian 1m sft in Aug.
Alignement (8-13) won at Clairefontaine 1m 1f lst stks gd in Aug beating Caribbean Blue (8-13) by 1l, 10 ran.
