O’Brien confirms his two for the Arc, plus latest on Delacroix

Aidan O’Brien confirmed there will be no last minute changes to his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe plans, with Whirl on course for the Qatar Prix de l’Opera on the same afternoon and the door left open for Delacroix to run at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day.

Last year’s third Los Angeles has long been earmarked for a return to ParisLongchamp, while Minnie Hauk will be supplemented into the race by the Ballydoyle team on Wednesday after her unbeaten season to date and fantastic run of four consecutive Oaks victories.

Despite potential concerns about the lack of pace, O’Brien is content to head to the Bois de Boulogne with just a two-strong hand for Europe’s richest middle-distance prize, allowing some of his other stable stars to head elsewhere.

“It’s not the plan to supplement any others and it will just be Minnie Hauk at the moment,” said O’Brien.

“Delacroix might have been in the Arc, but after the Derby we went back in distance and it wasn’t in the plan for him.

“We felt Whirl would just be very comfortable going back to a mile and a quarter after the Vermeille and obviously we’re trying to split them up a bit really.

“We didn’t really consider adding a pacemaker, there usually is enough pace in the Arc and both of ours would be very happy being handy.

“It looks like both would be happy at a mile and a half and I would imagine we will keep it simple.”

Delacroix has been one of the Ballydoyle success stories of the season after bouncing back from fluffing his lines in the Derby to land both the Coral-Eclipse and most recently the Irish Champion Stakes in thrilling style, demonstrating once again his electric turn of foot.

However, the decision on whether the valuable son of Dubawi will continue his career and head for a third clash with season-long rival Ombudsman in the Champion Stakes, come back in trip for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes or make an early departure to stud is still to be made.

O’Brien added: “I’m not sure if we’ll see Delacroix at Ascot, but it’s possible. The lads haven’t made up their mind yet and haven’t told us what they want to do.

“I would imagine it will get a little bit closer to the race and there is a lot of stuff to be thinking about. We understand how important he is and whatever decision they make we’ll go with.”

Meanwhile, Coral say they have continued to see support for Delacroix in the QEII, where he would clash with Field Of Gold, making him 3-1 second-favourite for the mile event.

“Delacroix was an 8-1 chance for the QEII last week, and although we don’t yet know whether or not he will race again, his price for the Champions Day race has contracted significantly, to the point where he could yet challenge Field Of Gold for favouritism,” said Coral’s David Stevens.