Arc Saturday Preview: Cirrus to pocket the Dollar

Longchamp: Plays host to four Group 2s on Saturday
Timeform look ahead to four pattern races on the Saturday of Arc weekend at Longchamp, with the Prix Dollar being the feature...
11:55 - Group 2 Prix Chaudenay
Staged over a mile and seven furlongs, the Prix Chaudenay sees many of the contenders stepping into as yet untested territory with regards distance, although there are a number of the French-trained competitors, namely Canticum, Smoky Hill, Only A Pleasure, Valdo Bere and Verema, that have raced at the trip to date.
Among the leading contenders is Francois Doumen's Top Trip, who was last seen finishing fourth to Arc hope Masterstroke in the Grand Prix de Paris. This will represent Top Trip's first real foray beyond a mile and a half, but the impression he has created on each of his last two starts is that he will relish the test.
John Gosden's Bahrain Trophy winner Shantaram, who bypassed the St Leger, is another that promises to be suited by the extra distance, as is Dermot Weld's Galtres Stakes winner Pale Mimosa, who is still unexposed. It looked a sub-standard renewal of the listed York contest but Pale Mimosa was impressive, going away from her rivals at the finish and giving the impression that that she would be ideally suited by further than a mile and a half.
The Andrew Balding-trained Mysterious Man is another that remains open to improvement, having shaped well on his handicap debut when fourth in the Melrose Stakes, whilst the aforementioned Smoky Hill, who cost €420,000 as a yearling and got off the mark on his latest start at Fontainebleau, may yet do better still.
12:30 - Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein
Last year's winning trainer Freddie Head, who tasted success with Rajsaman, is not represented this time around, but there is plenty of French interest with six of the eight participants hailing from the other side of the Channel.
Zinaabaa, whose best effort came on his penultimate start when finishing fourth to Golden Lilac in the Prix d'Ispahan, arguably leads the home charge despite putting up a below-par effort on his subsequent start.
However, a possible solution to this event can be found in a Group 2 contest that took place at Baden-Baden in August, where Highland Knight and Dux Scholar finished first and second respectively. The former triumphed by three and a half lengths, taking his form to another level in the process and suggesting that he would go well once more if kept away from the very best milers. Dux Scholar, formerly trained in Britain by Sir Michael Stoute, is capable of better than he managed to show that day but may find it difficult to reverse the form.
Lucayan, a three-year-old trained by Francois Rohaut, is also worth a second glance as, if returning to the form of his win in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains earlier in the year, he would have a chance of getting involved, but he does need to bounce back from a pair of sub-standard efforts since.
13:00 - Group 2 Prix Dollar
The 2012 renewal of the Prix Dollar revolves around the return of Cirrus des Aigles, who has not been seen since finishing second to Golden Lilac in the Pirx d'Ispahan back in May. Cirrus des Aigles was subsequently disqualified after testing positive and has reportedly been kept off the track due to a minor leg injury, and while Saturdat's race is likely to be used as a tune-up for the Champion Stakes and a crack at Frankel, he is a top-class performer with plenty in hand of his rivals on ratings and will be extremely hard to beat.
Take Cirrus des Aigles out of the race and it would be incredibly competitive, with just 3 lb separating six of the remaining eight on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings. Of most interest would be the John Gosden-trained Colombian, who finished third in the Arlington Million on his latest start, returning to his best in the process, Chinchon, who won a Group 1 in Singapore on his most recent start in May, putting up a career-best in the process, and Hunter's Light, an easy winner of the Anatolia Trophy at Veliefendi last month.
13:30 - Group 2 Prix de Royallieu
The last of the Group races on Saturday is the Prix Royallieu, with eight three-year-old fillies set to go to post. Epsom Oaks second Shirocco Star, trained by Hughie Morrison, looks one of the most likely winners. The classic runner-up has since finished third in the Ribblesdale (when arguably paying for making her effort earlier than ideal), second to Arc contender Great Heavens in the Irish Oaks and fourth to Shareta in the Yorkshire Oaks, although she wasn't seen to best effect under a patient ride on the latter occasion.
She is likely to take a good deal of beating and could face her biggest challenge in the shape of Coquet, who did not enjoy a clear run when finishing sixth in the Epsom Oaks. A poor run in the Yorkshire Oaks was quickly rectified as she finished third at Newbury last time, where a stronger pace would have been preferable, and she could prove to be a strong contender here.
Dalkala looks to be the best placed French-trained filly to make her presence felt, her third in a Group 2 last time seeing her return to somewhere near the form she demonstrated when winning the Prix Cleopatre earlier in the season. However, she no longer appears to be progressing and may find the British pair too good.
Get ratings for all 4 Group races at Longchamp on Saturday - visit timeform.com to download your card