WHERE to start? It’s a ‘wow wee woo’ weekend of hardcore racing with a host of exciting horses strutting their stuff.

Take your pick from Group 1 sprinters, Arc contenders and star milers. And that’s not to even mention belting handicaps at Ascot and Haydock.

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Let’s start with a huge 24 hours for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, headed by Kalpana at Kempton and a host of sexy perfomers lining up for trials at Longchamp tomorrow.

Kalpana is the defending champion in the Group 3 September Stakes, and she will be expected to see off a decent line-up that includes the Hong Kong victor Giavellotto, no mug.

Andrew Balding’s stable star is generally 6-1 market leader for the Arc on October 5, and she will need to score in style to consolidate that position live in front of the ITV cameras.

The daughter of Study Of Man comes into this race on the back of a second to Calandagan in the King George VI at Ascot. A polished performance is needed and Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane misses many other tasty prizes this afternoon for this one.

A spectacular card on Sky Sports Racing tomorrow at Longchamp sees three more Arc trials. The Prix Foy numbers Sosie (last year’s fourth and a 16-1 shot this time) and Los Angeles, the former Derby third.

The Prix Vermeille has Arc runner-up Aventure (16-1 for 2025 redemption) and Oaks placed Whirl, while the Niel has another Derby third in Tennessee Stud.

Also at Longchamp is the Group 1 Prix du Moulin, in which Rosallion goes again in desperate need of a win after placed efforts in the Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes and then a disappointing fourth in the City Of York.

Jacques le Marois third Dancing Gemini will be a huge player for Roger Teal with some juice expected in the ground, while Lockinge winner Lead Artist also returns.

The one to beat for me is Henri Matisse, the French Guineas hero who was third in the Sussex but who for me was not at his best. He was previously second to Field Of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Back to today, and the feature race is the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, with seventeen runners expected to go to post.

All eyes will be on favourite Lazzat, who was superb when landing the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot but who was beaten into second by Sajir in the Prix Maurice de Gheest when an extra half a furlong should not have been an issue.

Lazzat can win, but it’s his owner-companion KIND OF BLUE (3.35) that interests me, despite the fact that very high draw numbers at Haydock are not always the place to be and James Fanshawe’s ace is in box 19.

Kind Of Blue was back in form at the Curragh last time and should have his ideal conditions to run a big one under Danny Muscutt. The Wathnan purchase has been poor in 2025, having ended last term with success in the Group 1 success in the mud at Ascot.

The third, though, to Bucanero Fuerte was finally a step in the right direction and he might just be a horse who is better in the Autumn when some are deteriorating. James Doyle has ditched him for Lazzat which is totally understandable. But Kind Of Blue was second in this last year and has a brilliant each-way chance.

It’s great to see Kieran Shoemark pick up the ride on Commonwealth Cup hero Time For Sandals, who found 5f a bit sharp at Goodwood but who is improving all the time. Shoemark is in terrific form.

The major betting race at Ascot is the Schweppes Handicap over 7f. It’s hard to think there is a better jockey booking out there than Jamie Spencer for NATIVE WARRIOR (2.40) — and not just because Spencer rides this straight track so well.

Native Warrior was a fine third to the re-opposing and admirable Great Acclaim at Glorious Goodwood. Bumped at the start and slow into stride, the lightly raced four-year-old was short of room a furlong out before keeping on and being hampered again close home.

Basically he was very unlucky and he goes from the same mark here of 95. He’s run well at this track before when third in a Britannia and his come-from-behind style is what Spencer loves.

I’d need another 1,000 words to write about all the other highlights. A weekend to sit back and enjoy. Yeeehaaa!

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