Among the star studded horses set to take on the Prix Arc de Triomphe next month including the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s triple Oaks winning Minnie Hauk, and Prix Vermeille winner Aventure, with potential soft ground in play, Cheveley Park Stud and David O’Meara’s four year old filly Estrange could have a very underlying advantage, and at an ante post price of 25/1, she shouldn't be counted out yet.
As one of CPS’s most promising fillies on the flat, Estrange has added some impressive victories to her form, including the group two Lancashire Oaks and the Lester Piggot Fillies Stakes at Haydock, the EBF Gillies Fillies Stakes at Doncaster, and the EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes at Goodwood on her debut, the prestigious Prix Arc de Triomphe could be next up, but she will be set to meet some dangerous company.
With a couple of impressive wins under her belt already, a trip over to Longchamp looks like a real test for the ‘Unicorn’, and she will likely meet again with Aidan O’Brien’s star filly Minnie Hauk, the winner of three Oaks races this season, and a star studded horse who looks a clear contender in France. However, aside from matching up against some of the world's best horses, there is one aspect of her game which could give her an extra edge, and that secret weapon is rain, something which isn't unusual at the Arc.
The two wins Estrange had already booked over soft ground at Goodwood and at Doncaster were probably her two more impressive races of the lot, and looked like the perfect ground she needed to display that rapid turn of foot and late burst of acceleration. As she progresses rapidly, and continues to impress with her stamina and adaptability, it would be the soft, slow ground which would be a massive advantage over her challengers who prefer the quick ground, and come race day, a bit of slop and downpour is all David O’Meara’s impressive filly needs to put in her best possible performance.
As a filly with a promising weight allowance, and a horse who could really be in the talks given the perfect ground, soft ground would elevate Estrange’s rep in the race massively, and for all connections involved, it will be the weather forecast which determines her involvement in the Arc. Given soft ground comes, levelling up the playing field, Estrange will have all the means to put on her best performance, and with stamina a strong point for her, some soft, slow ground would mean her stamina could be the best in the field, so that 25/1 price tag could chop pretty quick, and grey clouds above Longchamp is what the Unicorn in red white and blue is dreaming for.
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