O’Brien happy with get-to-know-you session for Minnie Hauk and Soumillon

Christophe Soumillon visited Ballydoyle last week in an effort to get to know Minnie Hauk ahead of the pair teaming up in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly has been imperious this season, winning all four of her starts, three at Group One level.

She had little trouble in brushing aside the year-older Estrange in the Yorkshire Oaks last time out and is among the favourites to give O’Brien his first win in the race for nine years.

Soumillon, who has not won the Arc since the brilliant Zarkava in 2008, has stepped in to replace the injured Ryan Moore on several Ballydoyle big guns recently.

“Christophe sat on her the other day and that was the first time he had ridden her and he seemed very happy,” said O’Brien.

“Christophe did a nice half-speed on her Wednesday last week and it seemed to go well.”

Surprisingly Minnie Hauk was not among O’Brien’s initial entries for the race and she still needs to be supplemented.

He said: “She was a very expensive yearling (€1,850,000) and we always liked her a lot. We took our time and she was second in a maiden first time to one of Joseph’s (O’Brien, Wemightakedlongway) and the filly who beat her was second to her in the Irish Oaks.

“We knew she had a little bit of catching up to do this year as she only had the two runs so she went for the trial in Chester and obviously went from there to Epsom and the rest is history after that.

“When she went to Chester she was just ready to start so she did progress a lot to go to Epsom.

“We were very happy with what she did at Epsom and then from Epsom to the Curragh she progressed and she’s slowly progressed all year really.

“We’re very happy with her, she’s done everything we’ve asked, at home she’s been lovely.”

O’Brien also runs Los Angeles, who finished third last year, and would not be drawn on who he thinks will come out on top between the pair.

“I’d never be surprised by anything that happens in a race. My two have never worked together, they’ve had two different preparations totally, but it will be interesting,” he said.

“She does look a very good filly, but he looks a horse who is slowly progressing back to his best so it’s impossible to say that (who’d come out on top).

“All we can do is have them well, hope to get clean runs and the acid test is then when you run them.”