Bahrain and Hong Kong options for Pride Of Arras

Pride Of Arras will embark on international missions after connections decided against taking part in a red-hot Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Ralph Beckett’s Dante winner left behind disappointing displays in both the Derby and Irish equivalent to register a second York victory of the season in the Great Voltigeur, his first start following a gelding operation.

After bypassing Ascot, Pride Of Arras’ attentions will now turn to the international scene with the valuable Bahrain International Trophy or the Hong Kong Cup coming into range.

Patrick Cooper, racing manager for owners David and Vimy Aykroyd, said: “We’re looking towards Bahrain and Hong Kong and hopefully he will run in one of those.

“We’re not sure which one and Bahrain comes first and would be the easier option of the two, but we haven’t sat down and had a proper look at the races yet.

“He’ll definitely be running abroad this winter and the intention is to give him one more run somewhere this year and then we will have a look at the races in Saudi Arabia and Dubai early next year.

“He’s a gelding now so we don’t have an end product as such to worry about, but the owners own the dam (Parnell’s Dream) and it would be nice to make him a Group One winner and that will be important.”

As well as Pride Of Arras’ notable success this term, connections have also enjoyed a dream run with Royal Ascot victor Amiloc, who saw his five-race winning run come to an end when second to Melbourne Cup contender Al Riffa in the Irish St Leger.

He will head to America in a bid to regain the winning thread and will revert to the mile-and-a-half distance over which he claimed King Edward VII Stakes glory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Copper added: “Amiloc will go to the Breeders’ Cup and is all good to head to the Turf and we’ll see how he goes.

“It’s the right race for him and there’s some very good horses in it, but we’ll give it a go and see what happens.”