KEY POINTS:
A trip to Paris for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October is being mooted for New Zealand mare Princess Coup if she can break her Australian group one duck tomorrow.
Co-owner John Bromley said a win over main rivals Tuesday Joy and Sirmione in tomorrow's BMW at Rosehill would hasten plans for a French raid instead of a Cox Plate bid. "It's her day of reckoning but if she won on her ear, the Prix would have to come into the equation," Bromley said. "I've always dreamed of having a runner in the Prix since I watched Balmerino [who ran second in 1977]. How many chances do you get to take a horse to Europe?"
The famed Prix de l'Arc at Longchamp on October 5 is run over 2400m at weight-for-age.
Bromley, who co-owns the $2.2 million earner with Christchurch businessman Ray Coupland, said he'd had discussions with French officials who were "very keen" for Princess Coup to make the trip.
He said trainer Mark Walker's spring preference was for Princess Coup to defend her title in the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings then target the Cox Plate, but he was receptive to a change of plans.
Tuesday Joy was last night's $2.60 favourite for the BMW with TAB Sportsbet, with Princess Coup at $3.30 and the Bart Cummings-trained Sirmione at $4.40.
- NZPA
