Anthony Van Dyck will bypass Arc for Breeders' Cup Turf

English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck is expected to make his next start in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 after being withdrawn from Sunday’s $5.47 million Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp by trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Anthony Van Dyck, third in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 14, is considered better on good or firm turf than soft turf. Rain hit Paris earlier this week, which is likely to result in a softer turf course for the Arc, which is run at 1 1/2 miles.

The Arc is expected to have a field of 12, led by Enable, who is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive win in Europe’s top race. Treve is the most recent runner to attempt three wins, having won the race in 2013 and 2014 before finishing fourth in 2015.

As of Wednesday, Enable was 8-11 with British bookmakers. O’Brien, who has won the Arc twice, most recently in 2016 with Found, has two expected starters in Japan and Magical. They are also candidates for the BC Turf.

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Wednesday, Soft Light was supplemented to the Arc for approximately $131,364. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Soft Light was second in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville at 1 9/16 miles at Deauville Racecourse on Aug. 25.

The results of the Arc and Saturday’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park will provide a clearer indication of the field for the BC Turf. The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is led by Sadler’s Joy and Channel Cat, who were second and third in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 24.

Old Persian, the winner of the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 15, and United, third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita last Saturday, are slated to have their next start in the BC Turf.

Old Persian, trained by Charlie Appleby for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, won the $300,000 Northern Dancer Stakes as the 3-5 favorite by 2 1/2 lengths. Last March, Old Persian won the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

In Europe, the 4-year-old Old Persian has won three stakes, including the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes for 3-year-olds at Royal Ascot in 2018.

United has yet to win a stakes. Trained by Richard Mandella, United was second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita in May and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Cleopatra’s Strike as the 2-1 favorite in the John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles.

“I hope to try him in the BC Turf,” Mandella said. “I think we can improve his game.”