No rush to commit to autumn target for Estrange

Connections of Estrange remain undecided as to whether to shoot for Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory or target Qipco Champions Day at Ascot next month.

With a pre-Arc trip to Paris for this weekend’s Prix Vermeille ruled out, trainer David O’Meara and owners Cheveley Park Stud now face a straight choice between aiming for Europe’s premier middle-distance contest on October 5, or taking the perceived easier option of the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes a fortnight later.

After seeing Estrange chase home Aidan O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk in the Yorkshire Oaks two weeks ago, Cheveley Park director Richard Thompson admitted the Arc was a “dream” target, but the team are understandably in no rush to make concrete plans.

Cheveley Park’s managing director, Chris Richardson, said: “Obviously we’ll keep both options open and see what happens – we wouldn’t be ruling out either option at this point.

“I think Mrs Thompson is probably favouring Ascot, I believe, and her son Richard is favouring Longchamp perhaps.

“Obviously Minnie Hauk if is going for the Arc and some of Aidan O’Brien other big ones, we’ll just have to assess what’s going where.

“We’ve got plenty of time and there’ll be plenty of discussion before we make our mind up. We’ll see what the ground is looking like and what the competition is.

“In the 50th year of their ownership of the stud, it would be a bit of a dream to expect to win the Arc, but it would be fun to have a runner.”