Following Karl Burke’s successful assault on the Prix Morny with Venetian Sun, this weekend sees a host of British and Irish trainers set sail in pursuit of continental big-race success.
Sunday afternoon sees four events rated at Listed level or above split between the Paris track of Longchamp and the German venue of Baden-Baden. With ten entries spread across the four contests, runners hailing from British and Irish yards have solid claims of returning home with a significant share of the euros on offer.
Sunday 1:33 Longchamp – Prix Gerald de Geoffre (Group 3)
Harry Dunlop and Charlie Appleby claimed back-to-back editions of this 1m7f contest in 2018 and 2019. Since then, the home team has dominated, with four wins in five years.
There is a strong chance the hosts will improve that recent record in 2025, with six of the seven runners hailing from a French yard. The odd horse out is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Emit.
With two Melbourne Cup wins to his name, O’Brien knows what it takes to win a significant international staying event, suggesting it may be unwise to underestimate this son of Too Darn Hot. His pedigree doesn’t suggest stamina should be a strong suit, but his career-best win came when stepping up to 1m4f in the Listed Marble City Stakes at Gowran Park last time out. With another three furlongs to play with here, there may be more to come.
Sunday 1:35 Baden-Baden – Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche (Group 3)
John Dunlop, Roger Charlton, James Eustace, Marco Botti, Ed Walker, and Hugo Palmer feature on the 21st-century roll of honour for this 6f sprint. In 2025, Karl Burke and Archie Watson attempt to add their names to that list. This Black Forest race is sponsored by Casino Baden Baden, a local German casino looking to complete with the ever growing list of online casinos, such as ones found on fi.nettikasinot.co.uk.
Hot on the heels of Venetian Sun’s famous victory in France, Burke saddles the three-year-old colt Arabie. This son of Dandy Man rocketed through the juvenile ranks in 2024, striking in Group 3 and Group 2 company, and running well to finish fourth in the Prix Morny. He’s yet to hit those heights in five starts this season but arrives on the back of a solid second in the Listed Prix Kistena at Deauville.
Archie Watson’s Kylian is a year older than Arabie but boasts a similar profile. A winner of the Listed Dragon Stakes as a juvenile, he failed to progress at three, with his only wins arriving in a pair of all-weather handicaps. However, the Invincible Spirit gelding has returned to something like his best in 2025. Having claimed the Listed Silberne Peitsche over this course and distance, this looks like a solid opportunity to add an elusive Group victory to his CV.
Sunday 4:00 Longchamp – Prix d’Arenberg (Group 3)
Having won six of the last seven editions, this five-furlong contest for the juvenile speedballs may represent Britain and Ireland’s best chance of success on Sunday afternoon. Eleven go to post in 2025, including a six-strong raiding party:
- Wateen – Placed in Listed company last time out at Deauville, this Profitable filly represents 2022 winning trainer Alice Haynes.
- Hollywood Treasure – Unbeaten in two starts, Hollywood Treasure bids to land the hat-trick for Kevin Philippart De Foy and Amo Racing.
- Soulful Diva – Sired by the 2018 winner of this race, Soldier’s Call, Soulful Diva is bred for the job but needs to improve on what she has shown to date.
- Stargazed – Representing the in-form Karl Burke operation, Stargazed has taken a while to find his stride but broke his maiden in fine style at Ripon in July.
- Havana Anna – Surprisingly, the name O’Brien is absent from the list of winning trainers in this race. Donnacha O’Brien will hope to put that right with this hat-trick-seeking daughter of Havana Grey.
- Shine On Me – Having struck with Aesterius in 2024, Archie Watson and Wathnan Racing defend their crown with Shine On Me. She’s zero from four so far, but has performed well in defeat behind talents including True Love and Venetian Sun.
Sunday 4:35 Longchamp – Prix de la Cochere
Moving marginally down the racing ladder, this Listed contest sees a talented field of fillies and mares do battle over a mile. Last successful with Charlie Appleby’s Poetic Charm in 2018, Britain relies on representatives from the yards of Ollie Sangster and Ed Walker this time around.
Ed Walker’s Vicario has yet to strike beyond seven furlongs or outside of handicap company, suggesting she may be up against it. However, Sangster’s lightly raced Shuwari scored in Listed company as a juvenile and finished an excellent second in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile. Having missed the whole of 2024 through injury, she predictably needed the outing on her return but improved to finish third in the Listed Dick Hern Stakes last time.
With the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe looming large on the horizon, late summer/early autumn is an excellent time for quality continental action. Having bagged the big event last weekend, can Britain and Ireland strike once again?