Paris Longchamp will stage a nine-race Flat card on Saturday, October 3, as part of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. The action will begin at 1:23pm and continue through to 6:10pm, with races covering distances from 1,600m to 4,000m. The programme will feature six Group contests, including three Group 1 races, alongside Class 1 and Class 2 events.
The opening race at 1:23pm will be the Qatar Prix Chaudenay, a Group 2 contest for three-year-olds over 3,000m. The race will carry €183,000 in prize money and will feature eight runners. The extended distance will provide a strong test of stamina for the three-year-old field.
At 1:58pm, the Qatar Prix Dollar will be contested over 1,950m. This Group 2 race will be open to horses aged three and above and will offer €183,000 in prize money. Seven runners are listed for the contest, which will provide a test over a distance just short of two kilometres.
The third race at 2:33pm will be the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments, a Group 1 PA contest for four-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies. The race will be run over 2,000m and will carry €150,000 in prize money. Twelve runners are scheduled to take part. The contest will form one of the major Purebred Arabian races on the Paris Longchamp card.
At 3:15pm, the Qatar Prix de la Place des Vosges will take place over 2,500m. This Class 1 handicap will be open to horses aged three and above and will carry €72,000 in prize money. The field will consist of 18 runners, making it one of the largest fields of the afternoon.
The fifth race at 3:50pm will be the Arqana Series – Haras de Bouquetot Critérium d’Automne. This Class 2 contest for two-year-olds will be held over 1,600m and will offer €260,000 in prize money. Fifteen runners are scheduled to line up. France Galop has highlighted the race as one of the major two-year-old events on Saturday’s programme.
At 4:25pm, attention will turn to the Qatar Prix de Royallieu, a Group 1 contest over 2,800m for horses aged three and above. The race will carry €300,000 in prize money and will feature 11 runners. The staying contest will place particular emphasis on stamina, with fillies and mares taking centre stage. France Galop has identified the race as one of the afternoon’s major highlights.
The Qatar Prix du Cadran will follow at 5:00pm. This Group 1 race will be run over a demanding 4,000m for horses aged four and above, with €300,000 in prize money. Ten runners are scheduled to contest the race. The extreme staying distance will make it one of the longest races on the ParisLongchamp card. France Galop describes the Cadran as one of the great staying contests of the programme.
At 5:35pm, the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein will be staged over 1,600m. This Group 2 race will be open to horses aged three and above and will carry €183,000 in prize money. Ten runners are listed for the contest, which will bring the focus back to a shorter distance following the 4,000m Cadran.
The final race at 6:10pm will be the Qatar Prix de la Place de la Concorde, a Class 1 handicap over 1,600m for horses aged three and above. The race will carry €72,000 in prize money and will feature 15 runners. It will bring the nine-race Paris Longchamp programme to a close.
The October 3 card will therefore offer a broad range of racing, from two-year-old contests to Group 1 staying events and Purebred Arabian competition. With six Group races and three Group 1 contests, the Paris Longchamp programme will provide a major day of Flat racing ahead of Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.