Latice has Vermeille in sights

Latice and Bago are the names to note on Sunday when Longchamp holds its Arc preview day with three 1 1/2-mile races.

Winner of the 1 5/16-mile French Oaks in her last start on June 13, Latice enters the Group 1 Prix Vermeille undefeated after four career starts. There is a question concerning her ability to stay 12 furlongs, but her running style suggests she can get the trip, as she closed full of energy to take the Oaks.

With the $305,000 Vermeille open for the first time to 4-year-old fillies, Latice must deal with the red-hot Silverskaya, who has won 5 of her 6 career starts, all this year. Among them are victories at or about 1 1/2 miles in a pair of Group 3's, the Prix Minerve and the Prix de Royaumont. Tested at the Vermeille distance, she might be too hard for Latice too handle.

Bago was pulled out of Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes to try 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Group 2 Prix Niel for 3-year-olds on Sunday. Winner of the Grand Prix de Paris, Bago tasted defeat for the first time when he ran third to Sulamani in the Juddmonte International Aug. 17.

Only four horses will line up for the Group 2 Prix Foy. Policy Maker, winner of the Grand Prix de Chantilly and runner-up in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, is the choice over Polish Summer, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic, in what promises to be a dawdling affair.

* Etlaala (6-1) came from last to first to take the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on Friday, scoring a half-length victory over the 5-2 co-choices, Iceman and Oude, who were second and third.