Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad heads a classy cast for the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m) at ParisLongchamp on Sunday (6 September), on a day that also features a trio of key trials for October’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m).

O’Brien’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner arrives at the headquarters of French racing after finishing runner-up to the now-retired Bow Echo on his two last starts.

A minor setback forced Gstaad to miss last month’s G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m), but the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp represents an ideal opportunity for the son of Starspangledbanner to regain the limelight.

O’Brien supplemented Dorset on Thursday (3 September) to join Gstaad at ParisLongchamp.

Opera Ballo and Ten Bob Tony, third and fourth to Bow Echo and Gstaad in the G1 Sussex Stakes (1600m), and improving French three-year-old Erdenali, are among those out to stop O’Brien landing his third Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

The master Irish trainer also saddles the classy Benvenuto Cellini in the G2 Prix Niel (2400m) for three-year-olds, one of the traditional stepping stones to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Last seen taking on his elders for the first time when third in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m), the Frankel colt will be fully tested by the likes of locally-trained Alam and Pearled Majesty.

Pearled Majesty, owned by Criquette Head, who won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe three times as a trainer, steps up in trip after success in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam (2000m) at Saint-Cloud.

“On Sunday, it’s admittedly a small field, but a high-quality one,” trainer Mauricio Delcher Sanchez said. “The race fits perfectly into his schedule, and we’ll see how he runs to plan his future,” he added, with Christophe Soumillon booked to ride.

Alam reappears after an eye-catching third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over this course and distance in July.

“He has recovered well from his last run,” trainer Mikel Delzangles said. “We gave him a few weeks off, and he has prepared well for this race. I expect a good performance from him.”

Reigning Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Daryz continues his preparation for the defence of his crown in the G2 Prix Foy (2400m) under Mickael Barzalona.

After starting his four-year-old season with a bang with two Group 1 wins, he was out of luck when third in June but has since shone in a work-out at Deauville, and again this week back home at Chantilly.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard revealed his stable star was suffering from a minor infection at Royal Ascot and described the Deauville blow-out as “very positive”.

“Daryz is ready, but he will come on a lot for the race to be 100 percent for the Arc,” Graffard said.

The Aga Khan Studs’ flagbearer is set to be tested to the full by O’Brien’s 2025 English and Irish Derby winner Lambourn and perhaps even more so by Bay City Roller, who excelled when landing the G1 Coronation Cup (2405m) at Epsom.

Trainer George Scott has decided to run the son of New Bay here in preference to an alternative engagement at Kempton the previous day.

The third trial, the G1 Prix Vermeille (2400m) confined to fillies and mares, promises to be a fascinating affair.

Astute 84-year-old Irish trainer Jim Bolger will entertain high hopes for Sparan Nua, edged out by just a short head in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks (2400m) a fortnight ago.

And English handler George Boughey said his five-year-old mare Survie, fourth in this race when trained in France last year, is buzzing after success at the highest level in the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (2400m) at Saratoga in the United States.

“Despite the long journey back from America she’s worked as well as ever. It’s all systems go for the weekend,” Boughey said.

The G1 Prix Vermeille (2400m) is carded as S5-1 and will be run at 9.50pm (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 6 September; the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m) is carded as S5-2 and will be run at 10.25pm; the G2 Prix Niel (2400m) is carded as S5-3 and will be run at 11.00pm; and the G2 Prix Foy (2400m) is carded as S5-4 and will be run at 11.35pm.

Photo: Liesl King