Arc Day WAYIs: True Love prevails in Foret, eyes BC Mile

Although two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) star Daryz is riding off into the proverbial sunset, at least three of Sunday’s Breeders’ Cup Challenge winners at ParisLongchamp are under consideration for a venture to Keeneland.

The strongest tip in that direction came from Aidan O’Brien, whose filly True Love prevailed over males in the Prix de la Foret (G1) to secure a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Other members of the Ballydoyle brigade ran well enough in their respective races to remain in the mix for their Breeders’ Cup targets. 

The Thoroughbred Corp., once the nom de course of the late Prince Ahmed bin Salman, is back in the limelight with a pair of Group 1 winners on Arc Day. His family’s reconstituted Thoroughbred Racing Corp. celebrated victories by Green Empress in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) and the rapidly improving Miss Scott in the Prix de l’Opera (G1). Connections hope to proceed to the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) with Green Empress, but Miss Scott may rest on her laurels over the winter rather than press on to the Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Karl Burke’s progressive Miss Yechance is entertaining the Turf Sprint (G1) after earning her ticket in the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1), which could send more contenders stateside.

Daryz’s trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard, got on the scoreboard early with Amusingly, who upset the colts in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1). But her status for any Juvenile Turf (G1) race is questionable.

Interestingly, females won every Thoroughbred Group 1 on the day, except for the Arc itself. Even the Group 1 for Purebred Arabians had the female factor, as Elisabeth Bernard became the first woman to train an Arabian World Cup winner. 

Juddmonte’s Prince Saud called it “ladies’ day” after Amusingly, hopeful that it was a harbinger for Kalpana in the Arc. Instead, it was prophetic for the undercard. 

Prix de la Foret (G1) – WAYI for Mile (G1)

Coolmore’s homebred True Love had not won since the 1000 Guineas (G1) on May 3, but the No Nay Never filly was consistently holding her own in top company while experimenting in distance. The Foret turned out to be just right for her, as an about seven-furlong test around a bend, even if she barely got up by a whisker in a three-way photo.

The other O’Brien runner, 16-1 Puerto Rico, nearly pulled an upset under a positive ride by William Buick. A return to the conditions of his victory in last year’s Lagardere also helped, and he only succumbed late to challenges on both flanks. Nighttime rallied on his inside, and True Love stayed on relentlessly wider out for Ryan Moore. 

Shading Nighttime on the post, True Love finished in 1:18.75 on the good ground as the slight 5-2 favorite ($7). O’Brien indicated that Puerto Rico, another head back in third, has also entered the Breeders’ Cup Mile picture.

True Love was gaining revenge on a couple of well-backed males who’d beaten her in Group 1 sprints on the straightaway at Deauville. Samangan, coming off a new high in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1), got no nearer than fifth. Thesecretadversary, the Prix Jean Prat (G1) winner, suffered a challenging trip in sixth. 

True Love was among the leading two-year-olds of 2025, with her major wins including the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot, the Railway (G2) over Puerto Rico, and the Cheveley Park (G1). She tried to cut back too sharply for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, where she was outpaced in eighth. But the Mile figures to be a more suitable spot this time, after her Newmarket classic coup and placings in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1), Coronation (G1), and Jean Prat. 

Prix de l’Opera (G1) – WAYI for Filly & Mare Turf (G1)

As O’Brien tinkered with the right trip for True Love, he arguably kept Precise at a mile for too long. She finally got her opportunity to stretch out to about 1 1/4 miles in the Opera. Although she checked in second to Miss Scott, who got the jump on her, Precise passed her test to become a serious Filly & Mare Turf candidate. The 1 3/16-mile version around Keeneland could be right up her alley.

For her part, Miss Scott ($12.20) was passing her first Group 1 test. The John and Thady Gosden pupil has climbed the ranks methodically this season. Her latest three-length romp in the Snow Fairy (G3) at the Curragh suggested that she was ready for a higher level, and she obliged here. 

Miss Scott and Precise raced in close proximity to each other, a little worse than midpack, much of the way. As Precise stayed on the fence, Miss Scott began to creep forward for Christophe Soumillon, who was probing for room in preparation for the final stretch. Soumillon’s advance work was the key to victory, for Miss Scott surged ahead to score in 2:02.41.

Precise, left to follow in her wake, was beaten by 1 1/2 lengths. Pink Panthera and even-money favorite Aventure, who both tried to close from the rear, wound up third and fifth, respectively. 

Miss Scott is eligible to keep progressing with maturity as a Night of Thunder filly, and her connections are mindful of not asking too much, too soon. 

“It’s fantastic,” Thady Gosden said. “Miss Scott is a filly we have always thought very highly of. She has been brought along quite gradually. This is the first time she has really stepped into the big league…

“We will see how she comes out of this race. We could leave her alone until next year. She is still only a three-year-old filly. We are quite late in the season. And, potentially, the only target left for her would be the Breeders’ Cup. That might be a little too much and a little too soon, but we will see how she is. And, of course, we will discuss it with her owners.”

Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) – WAYI for Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1)

Soumillon earlier lifted Green Empress to a photo-finish decision in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1), kicking off The Thoroughbred Racing Corp.’s big-race double.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Green Empress ranked as the 8-5 favorite ($5.20) by finally getting away from Ballydoyle superstar Sun Goddess. Green Empress has played second fiddle to Sun Goddess in a Curragh maiden, the Balanchine (G2), and the Moyglare Stud (G1). She had just one start outside of her towering shadow, the Debutante (G2), and she took advantage of it to break her maiden.

Green Empress found another Sun Goddess-free zone in the Boussac, but she had to outduel Data for the win. The race was marred by the fatal breakdown of early leader Spirit Tango. Data had to take evasive action, pushing Green Empress out as a result, and both youngsters did well to regain their momentum adroitly. 

Just when Green Empress appeared to make the winning move, Data came right back on her, and the favorite had to find extra in the final strides. The Saxon Warrior filly forced her head in front of Data on the line, covering the metric mile in 1:37.02.

Queen of the Day just lasted for third, a neck up on the eye-catching Allela, the 7-2 second choice who was a supplementary entry. 

“This is Thoroughbred Racing Corporation’s first Group 1 since its relaunch, so it is quite special,” racing manager Jane Mangan said, before the quickfire double with Miss Scott in the Opera. 

“When this filly won the Debutante at the Curragh, it was exactly 30 years after the late Prince Ahmed Salman won the Debutante in the United States, his first Group 1. The whole family is absolutely delighted, and enormous credit really has to go to Joseph (O’Brien). He has been very patient with her. He had planned an autumn campaign, and we kept running into Sun Goddess. Thankfully, today we got our chance! 

“The Breeders’ Cup is definitely on the agenda if she comes out of this race well. Joseph was very patient with her in the middle of the summer, with this type of campaign in mind, and we would very much like to go to Kentucky if the filly is able to.”

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) – WAYI for Juvenile Turf (G1)

Joseph O’Brien was in position to start Arc Day with a Group 1 double, sending out 3-5 favorite Folsom Blues in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1). But he was outkicked by Juddmonte’s filly Amusingly ($22.20), who provided an auspicious sign for Graffard ahead of Daryz’s historic Arc. 

Amusingly was originally on the Boussac path, until she was beaten narrowly in the course-and-distance Prix d’Aumale (G2). Graffard called an audible to supplement her to the Lagardere, reasoning that the about seven-furlong trip was the right call rather than persevering with her at the metric mile. 

Although the change of plan pitched her in against the colts, Amusingly repaid the expense handsomely. With Juddmonte’s retained rider, Colin Keane, aboard, the daughter of No Nay Never produced a sparkling last-to-first rally. She won going away from Folsom Blues by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:19.40.

Man’s Best Friend finished best of the Ballydoyle brigade in third, nipping stablemate Florida Bay. Hitherto unbeaten Avec Toi, the 5-2 second choice, was a disappointing sixth.

The Lagardere offers points on the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby, on the 10-5-3-2-1 scale, although it’s doubtful to factor in the ultimate standings.

“It was a big responsibility to supplement Amusingly for the Lagardere,” Graffard said. “But I think it is the trainer’s role to take that kind of risk. Often, you are a little bit on your own when making this type of decision…Honestly, I did it on instinct. I really thought she had the speed for this distance. I was genuinely afraid that I might have got it wrong…

“Honestly, I don’t know what her program will be from here. Next year, we could consider races such as the Commonwealth Cup (G1), but we also need to look at the program and find the races that suit her best, even if that means racing over a straight course.”

Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) – WAYI for Turf Sprint (G1)

Likewise supplemented for the Abbaye, Miss Yechance ($16.60) did not miss her chance in the turf dash. The Karl Burke sophomore was always in the vanguard, wearing down Ballydoyle gelding Mission Central and staving off the late lunge of another filly, 3-1 favorite Shiri, in a trifecta for the three-year-olds.

Miss Yechance blitzed about five furlongs in :55.08 down the straight course to extend her winning streak to three. The Cotai Glory filly advanced from a heritage handicap during York’s Ebor Festival and the World Trophy (G3) at Newbury. Her hat trick in the Abbaye meant the world to her connections, for varying reasons.

Her jockey, 20-year-old Jack Nicholls, was achieving his first Group 1 win. His career breakthrough came in a fitting spot, considering that he’s the son of Adrian Nicholls and grandson of Dandy Nicholls, the “sprint king.”

“She is the best filly in the world,” Nicholls enthused. “She flew out of the stalls and maintained a strong pace all the way to the finish. It is phenomenal to win a Group 1 on this great weekend! It is a dream!”

On the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, Burke is mourning the loss of his star mare Fallen Angel, who sadly broke down in Saturday’s Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2). He told Racing Post that it felt as if she might have given Miss Yechance a little lift from the equine afterlife. 

Miss Yechance’s success is especially important for her Libyan owners, as their homeland aims to build up its racing image on the world stage. 

“Today is a huge achievement, really, for Libya, for the Libyan people and, you know, for the Libyan racing industry,” said Dr. Ahmed, the racing manager of Al Leith Racing Club.

“We are extremely proud. We had a lot of confidence in this filly and, in the end, she did it. So we are absolutely delighted. It is incredible. I don’t really have the words to describe it, but, you know, in the end, she did what she had to do.”

Burke revealed that Miss Yechance was slated to ship back to Dubai, where she had a productive Carnival before joining him in North Yorkshire this spring. But her Breeders’ Cup perk might prompt travel in the opposite direction.

Shiri, who almost made it a Group 1 triple for Graffard, and Mission Central were also mentioned as possibles for a Turf Sprint rematch. 

“I think he has the speed and he can adapt to the turning track at Keeneland,” Aidan O’Brien said of Mission Central.