Prix Jean Luc Lagardare (G1) favorite Beauvatier is arguably second only to feature favorite Ace Impact in terms of being a standard bearer for the home team on Arc day.
Yann Berberot has plotted a faultless campaign through four victories, the most recent of which was a first success at group 3 level in the Prix La Rochette, and the value of the form has to be taken seriously, given he had Prix Morny (G1) runner-up Ramatuelle behind him on his second start at Saint-Cloud.
"I've never pushed him to the limit in the morning and he keeps showing he's a very good horse in his races," Berberot said. "I've had a good run-in to the race. He goes on all types of ground but the fact that he has the same conditions as in the Prix La Rochette is no bad thing."
While he has carried all before him at home, that is not to say he is the only plausible French-trained winner, as the Aga Khan's Zabiari is making rapid strides, despite still looking like mentally he has some growing up to do.
Evadeis also a plausible challenger if he can channel his early exuberance, although in reality he has more than the official length margin to make up with Beauvatier from his defeat in the Rochette (G3).
Richard Hannon has never hidden his admiration for Rosallion, who would not have been in love with the soft ground at Doncaster in the Champagne Stakes (G2) and should have conditions more to his liking.
Unquestionable looks the pick of Aidan O'Brien's pair and had excuses in the Phoenix Stakes (G1), where his race was effectively over after he reared up in the stalls.
Rising force Wathnan Racing is also doubly represented. The Richard Fahey-trained Native American is preferred by the market off the back of an easy success in a sales race at the Curragh.
O'Brien Seeks Fifth Marcel Broussac With Opera Singer
When it comes to handling top-class fillies Criquette Head and Pascal Bary have few peers in Europe and their joint-record of five wins in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) is a fine illustration.
Among all the other plaudits heaped on Aidan O'Brien, his ability to produce a contender for this particular race may not get as much play as some, but he will join Head and Bary in the record books if Opera Singer can add her name to those of Rumplestiltskin, Misty For Me, Found, and Ballydoyle.
The daughter of Justify laid out her credentials when running right away from her rivals to score by 6 1/2 lengths in the Newtownanner Stud Stakes (G3) at the Curragh.
The form was franked when third-placed Kalispera went close to winning the main trial for the Boussac, going down by a neck to Freville in the Prix d'Aumale (G3).
In turn the Aumale form is represented here by Freville, who like Opera Singer has a few runs under her belt. She comes here with a similar profile to last season's winner Blue Rose Cen, also trained by Christopher Head.
Overall the group form in France has not set a frightening standard, although Les Pavots could do no more than win the Prix du Calvados (G2) and has been kept fresh for this race.
The Lagardare and the Boussac are Breeders' Cup Challenge: Win and You're In events offering fees-paid and travel-paid berths to their corresponding races at the World Championships, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
