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Sea Of Class supplemented for the l'Arc de Triomphe

Sea of Class powers clear to win the Yorkshire Oaks
Image: Sea of Class

Sea Of Class has been added to Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe field at a cost of 120,000 euro.

The participation of the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner had been strongly mooted since her win at York, but trainer William Haggas had always said the decision would be down to the ground.

Traditionally the Arc has taken place on ground with plenty of cut in it, but with a lack of any appreciable rain in Paris of late, the surface looks like being in her favour.

Emmanuel Roussel, from the communications department of France Galop, said on Wednesday morning: "It is very difficult to predict what the ground will be like at the weekend so far in advance given the changing weather forecasts.

"There is a bit of rain forecast on Saturday and Sunday, and there's a bit of drizzle around today but nothing major.

"Before Saturday it is set to be windy and chilly, but with no rain.

"Currently the going is around 3.3 (penetrometer reading), that equates to around good/good to soft and that is what we are aiming for.

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"It was watered yesterday (Tuesday), around five millimetres was put on, and it will be watered again but nothing major, we will not try to turn the ground soft.

"It is difficult when rain is forecast to know how much watering to do, the forecasts change regularly."

If the ground is good to soft that may raise the hopes of Cracksman taking on stablemate and last year's winner Enable, with both of John Gosden's big guns still among the 20 possibles for the middle-distance championship.

Aidan O'Brien can call on St Leger victors Kew Gardens and Capri, along with Hunting Horn, Nelson and Magical.

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