Flintshire is early Breeders' Cup Turf favorite

The European contingent for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf strengthened on Sunday when Flintshire ran second to Treve in the $6.2 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

While Treve was retired Monday, Flintshire has emerged as the future-book favorite for the BC Turf, the richest turf race in the United States. Taghrooda, who finished third in the Arc, has been mentioned as an outside possibility for the BC Turf, with the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Oct. 18 a more likely possibility for her final career start.

Flintshire certainly displayed a performance in the Arc that would be good enough to win the BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Flintshire raced in the middle of the field of 20 before moving closer to the front with a quarter-mile remaining. The 4-year-old Flintshire was not going to catch Treve, losing by two lengths, but finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Taghrooda.

On Monday, Flintshire was listed at 3-1 to 4-1, a slight choice over Telescope, who is 9-2 to 5-1 with various bookmakers. Telescope is trained in England by Michael Stoute and has not raced since finishing third in the Group 1 International Stakes at York, England, in August.

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Flintshire, who races for Juddmonte Farms, is trained by Andre Fabre, who has a history of running horses in both the Arc and the BC Turf. Fabre won the 1990 BC Turf at Belmont Park with In the Wings, who was fourth in the Arc. He won the 2005 BC Turf with Shirocco, who was fourth in the Arc.

The BC Turf field will not include Brown Panther, the winner of the Irish St. Leger Stakes on Sept. 14. Brown Panther is a candidate for the Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 19, owner Michael Owen told the British press on Monday.