PARIS, France - Irresistible Jewel was confirmed as a definite starter for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf by her trainer Dermot Weld, despite a 4-length defeat at the hands of Bright Sky in the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on Sunday.

The winning daughter of Wolfhound left Irresistible Jewel flailing in her wake as she sped by to record a decisive victory in 2:02.30. The even money choice was adding to her Prix de Diane (French Oaks) title and certainly appreciated the return to ten furlongs after having failed in the 1 1/2-mile Prix Vermeille.

PARIS, France - As Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin troops celebrated a second successive victory in the $1,568,000 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Marienbard at Longchamp on Sunday, there was hope that the first three finishers in the great French race might all travel to Arlington Park for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

In addition to the 15.80-1 winner, who surprised both British and French fans in the crowd of 43,951, runner-up Sulamani and third-place High Chaparral are both being considered for the Turf.

PARIS, France - Marienbard gave Godolphin its second successive victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday as Frankie Dettori brought the 5-year-old son of Caerleon with a storming late run to defeat Sulamani by three quarters of a length.

As a result, he will be considered for either the Breeders' Cup Turf or the Japan Cup, but a date at Arlington must be the favored choice as the Japanese race will be run at 1 3/8 miles this year, and Marienbard would surely prefer the twelve furlongs of the Turf.

PARIS - Finding Breeders' Cup clues at Longchamp on Saturday proved an elusive task, as four Group 2 races produced only a couple of lukewarm possibilities for Arlington Park on Oct. 26.

The Pascal Bary-trained Domedriver could be Breeders' Cup Mile-bound after his last-to-first victory in the one-mile Prix Daniel Wildenstein, formerly known as the Prix du Rond-Point.

PARIS - French Oaks winner Bright Sky can use her fine third behind Pearly Shells and Ana Marie in the 1 1/2-mile Prix Vermeille to vault to victory in the 1 1/4-mile Prix de l'Opera, the most prestigious of the five Group 1 races on the Arc undercard Sunday.

PARIS - On the face of it, Sunday's $1,568,000 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe would appear to be little more than a match between favorites Sulamani and High Chaparral.

Recent history suggests that the favorite will carry the day at Longchamp. The last seven Arc winners have started as the favorite, with Peintre Celebre's victory in 1997 and Sakhee's last year the longest prices at 2.20-1. Other winners in that span and their odds were: Lammtarra (2.10-1), Helissio (9-5), Sagamix (1-2), Montjeu (3-2), and Sinndar (3-2).

Paris, France. On the face of it, Sunday's $1,568,000 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe would appear to be little more than a match between its favored Derby winners Sulamani and High Chaparral.

And recent history suggests that the favorite will carry the day at Longchamp. The last seven Arc winners have all gone off as the public choice, with Peintre Celebre's victory in 1997 and Sakhee's last year the longest prices at 2.20-1 from a group which includes Lammtarra (2.10-1), Helissio (9-5), Sagamix (1-2), Montjeu (3-2) and Sinndar (3-2).

PARIS, France - French Oaks winner Bright Sky can use her fine third behind Pearly Shells and Ana Marie in the Prix Vermeille to vault to victory in the Prix de l'Opera, the most prestigious of the five Group 1 races on the Arc undercard Sunday.

The Elie Lellouche trainee will appreciate the shorter distance and can prevail over Marotta, the winner of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary in May, and Irresistible Jewel, who was switched by Dermot Weld from Saturday's Prix de Royallieu in favor of this after a professional score in the Group 3 Blandford Stakes.

PARIS - Four Group 2 races at Longchamp Saturday set the table for the six Group 1 races that make up France's biggest day of racing, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Day on Sunday.

Russian Rhythm should maintain her unbeaten record in Friday's Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, a six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies that has a field of six.

Trained by Michael Stoute, Russian Rhythm showed remarkable speed to win the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York last time out despite horrendous traffic problems. Since that race she has been the favorite for next year's 1000 Guineas. Kieren Fallon will ride.