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Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere: get the inside track from connections

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sat 3 Oct 2026

Christopher Head says the unbeaten Avec Toi goes into his big date in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere with all boxes ticked.

The Chantilly trainer has made no secret of how highly he rates the son of No Nay Never, who barely came off the bridle in winning his first three starts, including a Group Three victory in the Prix Francis Boutin at Deauville in August.

But he became a true believer after the colt had to display a grittier side to his game to fend off Imperial Strike under a penalty in the Group Three Prix la Rochette over the seven furlongs of the Lagardere early last month, and now hopes he can step up to the highest level on Arc day.

“We don’t really have the proper preparation for the Jean-Luc Lagardere in France, so when you have won a Group Three you are carrying more weight,” said Head.

“He was in front and the other horse was probably a very good horse and trained by the maestro in Andre Fabre, so it was not a disappointment to see my horse working more and fighting more in that race because he really deserved to do it. I am happy about it.

“It was pretty easy for him from the beginning of the season as he was doing everything on his quality and now he has to fight for the win, which is a good thing because it will be necessary in the Jean-Luc Lagardere.”

Imperial Strike is in opposition again at ParisLongchamp this weekend, but Head is confident that at level weights his charge can confirm his superiority.

“If we are carrying the same weight he would have beaten the other horse by a length and there would be no discussion about it. It is pretty easy to calculate how that will go,” he said.

“It is all systems go for the weekend. I am very happy with the preparations for this weekend. He is an easy horse to train and is doing everything easily.”

Francis-Henri Graffard sprung a surprise at the declaration stage on Thursday when switching his filly Amusingly from the Prix Marcel Boussac to take on the colts.

She is owned by Juddmonte, meaning Colin Keane takes the ride having also ridden her in a narrow defeat to Ed Bethell’s Rogue Passion four weeks ago.

“She felt like a smart filly the last day but she just did things a bit back to front as she was keen early and then got interfered with. She still ran a massive race to lead for as far as she did and to be honest I couldn’t believe that something came by her,” said Keane

“I did think I’d win when she quickened up a furlong and a half out, but she’s a smart filly. The guys thought it was worth looking at the colts’ race with her.”

Amusingly will have her work cut out even in receipt of the 4lb fillies’ allowance with impressive National Stakes winner Folsom Blues putting his growing reputation on line and Prix Morny fourth, the Ballydoyle colt Man’s Best Friend, also in the line-up.

Aidan O’Brien has with a triple-pronged assault with Florida Bay and Aix La Chappelle joining Man’s Best Friend, Big Money Man gives Head a second string to his bow, while Alfred Wallace runs for Ed Walker and Crusherman completes the line-up for Brian Meehan.

Joseph O’Brien looks likely to field the favourite for the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac in Green Empress, despite the filly being put in her place in no uncertain terms behind Sun Goddess in the Moyglare Stud Stakes the Curragh.

While she was over six lengths behind the Ballydoyle filly, the Saxon Warrior filly still brings a high level of form into this Group One contest over a mile.

Data, like Avec Toi in the care of Head, and Christophe Ferland’s Allela provide the best of the home defence, but one trainer hoping to gatecrash the party is Roger Varian who saddles Godolphin’s Miss Miniver in the Arc day opener.

“She is in great form, although we are going again quite quickly after her run in the Rockfel Stakes (fourth to Pensando A Te) she came out of that race really well,” said Varian.

“I have been more than happy with her condition and movement over the last few days and a mile on a sound surface looks to be her optimum. She was closing well in the Rockfel and while we are a little disappointed to be drawn 11 of 12, there is nothing we can do about that.

“In an open-looking race she is worthy of her place and I think she will have conditions to suit.”

Francis-Henri Graffard saddles Queen Of The Day, a filly who has finished runner-up to Avec Toi and Data in her last two runs. Aidan O’Brien is represented by Ibelieveicanfly, the seemingly exposed Nevermindtherain and So Lovely.

Ralph Beckett’s Spirit Tango has won her last two races but takes a big step up in class under Oisin Murphy, while Brian Meehan’s Tall Trees, sixth in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, faces a similarly stiff task.

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