Vermeille date for Zarkava

Zarkava will, after all, warm up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 14.

Connections opt for Arc trial

Zarkava will, after all, warm up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 14. Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre originally wanted to swerve the Arc trial with his star three-year-old after she followed up victory in the French 1,000 Guineas with success in the Oaks. However, connections have been left with few alternatives and have decided to test her over the Arc trip of 12 furlongs in the Vermeille. "She's a very, very special filly and I was very impressed with her last time," De Royer-Dupre said. "I think the Prix Nonette (over 10 furlongs) is not a good decision because many times at the end of a meeting at Deauville the ground is not very good. "It's too dangerous for a filly like that and I need to run in the Prix Vermeille," he told At The Races. "We don't have another solution."