Blow For Japan As Wide Draws Blight Arc Hopes, Minnie Hauk Has Inside Stall

Thursday saw the all-important draw made for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with the key take-out being the disastrous post position of 17 for the leading Japanese hope Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) among the 18 final confirmations.

Things didn't get much better for the nation seeking its elusive first Arc, with the Tokyo Yushun winner's wide post compounded by the draw of 15 for the impressive Prix Foy winner Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia). Some good news finally arrived during the live draw at 11am French time, with the country's other prospect, the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano winner Alohi Alii (Duramente), getting stall four.

Aidan O'Brien's pair Los Angeles (Camelot) and Minnie Hauk (Frankel) have drawn 14 and one respectively for Sunday's ParisLongchamp showcase, with the latter on track to start favourite from the stall that housed Zarkava.

Challenging the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks heroine for that status is last year's Arc runner-up Aventure (Sea The Stars), who will break from stall 12 as she bids to build on her latest Prix Vermeille success for the Wertheimers and Christophe Ferland.

Joining Aventure in the French defence is the fellow Wertheimer contender Sosie (Sea The Stars), who has drawn favourably in three, and Godolphin's Prix Niel winner Cualificar (Lope De Vega) in stall eight from the Andre Fabre stable, with Daryz (Sea The Stars), Gezora (Almanzor) and Quisisana (Le Havre) forming a strong three-pronged assault from the Francis-Henri Graffard stable.

Daryz is in two, Gezora in 13 and Quisisana in seven. Jean-Claude Rouget has the Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard (Le Havre) in stall six and Arrow Eagle (Gleneagles) who has stall 16.

Irish outsiders Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) and White Birch (Ulysses) and the British-trained contingent Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman), Estrange (Night Of Thunder) and Kalpana (Study Of Man) complete the line-up. Giavellotto has stall five, Kalpana is in 10 and Estrange was drawn widest of all in 18.

Meanwhile, Kalpana has been declared in first-time cheekpieces as last year's British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner seeks her first success of the current campaign.

“If she can break her duck for the year in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe then we would be very happy,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's European racing manager.

“She's going to wear a pair of cheekpieces for the first time which we have popped on her at home and have reignited her a little bit.

“She's a year older and a year wiser and Andrew [Balding, trainer] just felt she had gone a little bit idle at home, but we popped them on her and they seem to have done the job. Hopefully, they will help on Sunday as well.”