Zarkava lackadaisical in Vermeille prep

ZARKAVA (Zamindar) failed to impress trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre in a

morning spin at Chantilly Tuesday ahead of Sunday's Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) at

Longchamp. Out of action since her success in the Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) at

Chantilly June 8, she was below-par in her work but remains on course for the 1

1/2-mile contest, which is the feature on the Arc Trial card.

"She was a little off this morning, but I think she will still run on

Sunday," de Royer-Dupre told PA Sport. "If  she runs on Sunday, then her

preparation for the Arc has not been affected. Maybe she is not quite ready, but

this is the right race for her. Obviously, we would prefer good ground for her."

Among her possible opponents are Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) runner-up ICE QUEEN

(Danehill Dancer [Ire]), one of five fillies still engaged from Ballydoyle, and

Godolphin's Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-G2) winner FOLK OPERA (Singspiel [Ire]).

Tackling the might of Ballydoyle in Sunday's National S. (Ire-G1) at The

Curragh will be ARAZAN (Anabaa), trainer John Oxx announced Tuesday. One of 20

entries remaining in the seven-furlong contest alongside 13 trained by Aidan

O'Brien, the Futurity S. (Ire-G2) winner will have his favored soft ground as

the wet weather continues.

"Arazan has been fine since his last run and he has continued in his normal

routine with no hitches, so all is well," Oxx told PA Sport. "Heavy ground

didn't stop him the last day and he will need to go on that again, because it is

going to be very soft again at the weekend. It's hard to know what will turn up

in the race, but as you would expect, it will be a hot race."

The Ballydoyle contingent includes Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) winner MASTERCRAFTSMAN

(Danehill Dancer [Ire]), Tyros S. (Ire-G3) scorer RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire])

and MASTEROFTHEHORSE (Sadler's Wells). The latter found Gan Amhras (Galileo

[Ire]) too strong in his debut at Naas in July before winning at Gowran Park

last month, and it is unlikely he will face that rival again if he lines up.

"Gan Amhras is a nice horse, but the ground will not be right for him, so he

is unlikely to run," Bolger told PA Sport. Bolger added that Coventry S.

(Eng-G2) runner-up INTENSE FOCUS (Giant's Causeway) would be his representative.

Bolger is also making plans for his Group 1-winning duo of LUSH LASHES

(Galileo [Ire]) and NEW APPROACH (Galileo [Ire]), who both defeated their elders

last Sunday at Leopardstown. While the October 5 Prix de l'Opera de Longchamp

(Fr-G1) is on the agenda for the former, heroine of the Matron S. (Ire-G1)

alongside victories in the Coronation S. (Eng-G1) and Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1),

plans are still fluid for Princess Haya of Jordan's Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1)

hero.

"Lush Lashes is in good order and, all being well, she will now go for the

Prix de l'Opera," the Coolcullen conditioner told PA Sport. "New Approach has

come out of his race well, and I will talk to John Ferguson before making any

firm plans. He has three possibilities in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1)

{at Longchamp October 5), the Champion Stakes (Eng-G1) at Newmarket (on October

18) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) (at Santa Anita October 25). Hopefully,

the plan is to run in two of those three races."