ParisLongchamp Arc Day 2026: Breeders' Cup Contenders

PARIS, FRANCE — October 4, 2026 — Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp delivered one of the most significant days on the international road to the 2026 Breeders’ Cup, with six Group 1 races carrying Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series implications.

One clarification on the dates: while the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend began on Saturday, October 3, the official Breeders’ Cup Challenge races at ParisLongchamp were all contested on Sunday, October 4. The Saturday card featured major Group 1 events including the Prix du Cadran and Prix de Royallieu, but neither was part of the 2026 “Win and You’re In” series.

Sunday proved especially memorable for the fillies, who captured five of the six qualifying races, while defending Arc champion Daryz supplied the day’s historic centerpiece.

A competitive horse race featuring two horses galloping towards the finish line, with jockeys in colorful uniforms urging them on.

GREEN EMPRESS — Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1)

Breeders’ Cup target: John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1)

The afternoon began with a thriller as Green Empress (IRE) captured the one-mile Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, earning her first Group 1 victory and an automatic berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Christophe Soumillon settled the Joseph O’Brien-trained filly in midpack before producing her on the outside in the stretch. Green Empress became locked in a prolonged battle with Data, but found another surge near the wire to prevail by a head, with Queen of The Day third.

The victory was particularly meaningful for The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation, marking its first Group 1 success since the famous racing operation was relaunched. Green Empress had entered the race off a runner-up finish in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and was making only the fourth start of her career.

Winner: Green Empress (IRE)
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Margin: Head
Distance: 1 mile
Breeders’ Cup: Juvenile Fillies Turf

A thrilling horse race at a large venue, featuring multiple horses galloping on a lush green turf with a modern grandstand and crowds in the background.

AMUSINGLY — Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (G1)

Breeders’ Cup Challenge race: Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1)

One of the performances of the afternoon came from Amusingly (GB), the only filly in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère field.

Still last turning into the stretch, Colin Keane brought the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee to the outside, where she produced an explosive finishing kick to sweep past the colts and defeat favored Folsom Blues by 1¼ lengths. Man’s Best Friend finished third.

The performance was historically significant. Amusingly became the first filly to win the Lagardère since Happily in 2017 and the first to accomplish the feat at ParisLongchamp itself since Danishkada in 1986. The Juddmonte homebred also gave Graffard his first victory in the race.

There is, however, an important Breeders’ Cup technicality. The Lagardère provides an automatic berth into the Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but that race is restricted to colts and geldings. Therefore, Amusingly cannot use the automatic starting position. Breeders’ Cup reported that if connections instead send her to the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, her entry fees would be covered, but she would not receive an automatic starting position.

Winner: Amusingly (GB)
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
Jockey: Colin Keane
Margin: 1¼ lengths
Distance: 7 furlongs
BC Challenge designation: Juvenile Turf*

Two racehorses competing intensely on a grassy track, with jockeys riding them. One horse is in the lead, while another is closely trailing behind.

MISS YECHANCE — Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1)

Breeders’ Cup target: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1)

The decision to supplement Miss Yechance (IRE) into the Prix de l’Abbaye proved inspired.

Her connections paid €25,200 to add the three-year-old filly to the 1,000-meter Group 1, and she rewarded them with the biggest victory of her career. Quickly into stride under 20-year-old apprentice Jack Nicholls, Miss Yechance remained prominent throughout and refused to surrender despite intense late pressure.

She held Shiri by a neck, with Mission Central another neck away in third, stopping the clock in a rapid 55.08 seconds. It was the first Group 1 victory for Nicholls and the first Prix de l’Abbaye triumph for trainer Karl Burke.

The victory gives Miss Yechance a guaranteed place in the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and Burke acknowledged after the race that Keeneland now has to enter the conversation.

Winner: Miss Yechance (IRE)
Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: Jack Nicholls
Margin: Neck
Distance: 5 furlongs / 1,000 meters
Breeders’ Cup: Turf Sprint

A horse racing scene with multiple horses and jockeys in colorful attire, competing on a green racetrack, with a large crowd in the background and bright sun overhead.

DARYZ — Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1)

Breeders’ Cup target: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)

The defining moment of the weekend belonged to Daryz (FR).

The Aga Khan Studs homebred successfully defended his Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe title, becoming the first male horse since Alleged in 1977-78 to win consecutive editions of the Arc. Only Trêve and Enable had managed back-to-back victories in the intervening years.

Mickaël Barzalona was patient aboard the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee, settling well off the pace before angling Daryz to the outside entering the stretch. Bay City Roller had stolen a significant advantage and looked dangerous, but once Daryz found clear running his acceleration was decisive.

He reeled in Bay City Roller and drew away to score by 1¼ lengths, with Diamond Necklace third, completing the mile and a half in 2:27.11.

The victory secured Daryz an automatic berth in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland. Whether he actually makes the trip remains uncertain, however. His connections indicated that retirement to stud is a serious possibility following his historic second Arc victory.

Winner: Daryz (FR)
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
Jockey: Mickaël Barzalona
Margin: 1¼ lengths
Distance: 1½ miles / 2,400 meters
Breeders’ Cup: Longines Turf

A horse race at the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, featuring two horses in motion nearing the finish line with a large red sign in the background.

MISS SCOTT — Prix de l’Opéra Longines (G1)

Breeders’ Cup target: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)

Miss Scott (IRE) announced herself at the highest level with an authoritative victory in the Prix de l’Opéra.

Christophe Soumillon patiently worked the three-year-old through traffic before finding daylight in the stretch. Once clear, the daughter of Night of Thunder took command and defeated Precise by 1½ lengths, with Pink Panthera another 1½ lengths back in third.

The win was Miss Scott’s first Group 1 victory and her second consecutive Group-race success for trainers John and Thady Gosden. It also completed a remarkable Group 1 double on the afternoon for The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation following Green Empress’ victory in the Marcel Boussac.

For Soumillon, it was a record-extending fifth Prix de l’Opéra victory.

Miss Scott secured a berth in the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, although Thady Gosden cautioned afterward that connections will first evaluate how she recovers before committing to the trip to Keeneland.

Winner: Miss Scott (IRE)
Trainers: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Margin: 1½ lengths
Distance: 1¼ miles / 2,000 meters
Breeders’ Cup: Filly & Mare Turf

A thrilling horse race featuring three racehorses with jockeys, one in blue and orange, competing closely on the track.

TRUE LOVE — Qatar Prix de la Forêt (G1)

Breeders’ Cup target: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)

Arc day concluded its Breeders’ Cup qualifying program with another dramatic finish as True Love (IRE) prevailed in the Qatar Prix de la Forêt.

Ryan Moore rode the Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old aggressively over ParisLongchamp’s 1,400-meter course, and she needed virtually every yard to catch Nighttime.

True Love got her head in front at the finish to win by exactly that margin, with stablemate Puerto Rico another head behind in third. Her winning time was 1:18.75.

The victory was significant for O’Brien, who remarkably had never previously won the Prix de la Forêt despite his extraordinary Group 1 record. For True Love, it represented the third Group 1 victory of her career and earned her an automatic place in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile.

O’Brien indicated afterward that both True Love and Puerto Rico could head to Keeneland for the Mile.

Winner: True Love (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Margin: Head
Distance: 7 furlongs / 1,400 meters
Breeders’ Cup: Mile

ParisLongchamp Sends a Powerful Group Toward Keeneland

Arc Day ultimately produced an extraordinary international group of potential Breeders’ Cup contenders:

ParisLongchamp Winner	Challenge Race	Breeders’ Cup Division
Green Empress	Prix Marcel Boussac G1	Juvenile Fillies Turf
Amusingly	Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère G1	Juvenile Turf*
Miss Yechance	Prix de l’Abbaye G1	Turf Sprint
Daryz	Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe G1	Turf
Miss Scott	Prix de l’Opéra G1	Filly & Mare Turf
True Love	Prix de la Forêt G1	Mile

*Amusingly cannot use the automatic Juvenile Turf berth because she is a filly; Breeders’ Cup says her fees would be covered if she instead runs in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, without an automatic starting position.

The biggest question now is how many of Sunday’s European stars will make the trip to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on October 30-31. Green Empress, Miss Yechance and True Love all emerged with Kentucky firmly under consideration, while Miss Scott’s connections will evaluate her recovery. Daryz, meanwhile, may have already run the final race of a career now defined by consecutive victories in Europe’s most prestigious race.