Prix Niel On Agenda For Erupt

Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will next put his unbeaten record on the line when he tackles the G2 Prix Niel at Longchamp September 13, a long established trial for the G1 Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe. Unraced as a juvenile, the Niarchos Family's homebred 3-year-old gave young trainer Francis-Henri Graffard a breakthrough Group 1 success when winning the Grand Prix De Paris July 14 on what was only his fourth racecourse start. Alan Cooper is racing manager to the Niarchos Family and he reported, “Erupt is in good form, he has come out of his race in really great shape. We shall progress, as we suggested immediately after the race, with the Prix Niel next and then, hopefully, the Arc.” Cooper wasn't overly surprised with the manner of Erupt's victory given his unexposed profile and added, “It wasn't a surprise seeing him win like that in the Grand Prix de Paris – he had won his previous race in a Group 3 so it was all about how he handled the step up. It was a big step up but he came through it well. Now he'll have to step up again.”