Godolphin ace Hurricane Lane completes workout ahead of possible Arc bid
Hurricane Lane has completed his latest workout ahead of a possible tilt at next month's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which he would join stablemate Adayar in the Group 1 at Longchamp.
The three-year-old son of Frankel finished behind subsequent King George winner Adayar in the Derby in third but has had an otherwise flawless campaign, winning the Dante before Epsom and three Group 1s since – the Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and the St Leger.
No winner of the Doncaster Classic has successfully followed up in the Arc but that has seemingly not deterred connections from having a go at the 1m4f contest on October 3, for which Hurricane Lane is a top-priced 6-1 with William Hill.
Although no final decision has been made, Godolphin's official Twitter account appeared to indicate a trip to Paris was on the horizon for Hurricane Lane.
Tarnawa, who it was confirmed this week will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, is the 5-2 ante-post favourite with Adayar next in the market at a top-priced 4-1.
Speaking after Hurricane Lane's dominant display in the St Leger, Appleby hinted a tilt at the Arc was a definite possibility.
Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe racecard and betting
He said: "We mooted after the Grand Prix de Paris that potentially we might look towards an Arc. We know it's never been done but that doesn't mean it can't be done, that's what I'm a big believer in. We'll let the dust settle and see how he comes out of it then start to formulate plans.
"As it stands at the moment Adayar is the main Arc contender and I'd say we could just be looking towards Hurricane Lane joining him as well. Those are nice conversations to have!"
Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting
William Hill: 5-2 Tarnawa, 7-2 Adayar, 6 Hurricane Lane, Snowfall, 9 Chrono Genesis, 12 St Mark's Basilica, 20 Deep Bond, Raabihah, 25 bar
Analysis: Hurricane Lane's Arc credentials examined
"St Leger winners don't double up at Longchamp" is a maxim that has a 100 per cent success rate over the course of the 99 previous editions of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
What cannot be said in all but a couple of cases is whether it was a hard race at Doncaster or insufficient raw talent that extended that sequence.
Hurricane Lane has two important advantages on most of those who have tried.
First, he already proved himself extremely effective over Longchamp's 1m4f. Equally important, that success in the Grand Prix de Paris came off a short turnaround following a lung-bursting effort to reel in Lone Eagle and a runaway Frankie Dettori in the Irish Derby just 18 days earlier.
On Racing Post Ratings he has 4lb to find with stablemate Adayar but that is the sort of step forward the average Arc winner needs to be taking and from what he has shown there is certainly the potential for Hurricane Lane to go forward again.
In terms of pure class the RPR of 125 he recorded at Longchamp – 8lb superior to Kew Gardens in the same race before he went on to land the 2018 Leger – puts him in a different league to most of those who have tried.
Scott Burton, France correspondent
Read more:
Hurricane Lane blows Classic rivals away with stunning St Leger display
Our experts highlight 25-1 and 14-1 outsiders for the Arc after eventful weekend
Family firing up Soumillon as he chases third Arc on Longchamp favourite Tarnawa (Members' Club)
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