The David Menuisier trained multiple Group One winner Wonderful Tonight is said to still be on course for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after flopping last time out in the Yorkshire Oaks at York's Ebor meeting.
The four year old daughter of Le Havre has been a revelation over the last few season for the yard, getting onto soft/heavy ground and revelling in it.
Having landed a Group Three at Deauville in August on heavy ground, he then went into the Group One Prix Vermeille at Paris Longchamp and the good ground went against him.
Stepped up to 1m6f in October he landed the Group One Prix de Royallieu at the Arc meeting on heavy ground and then later that month back that up with a career best performance over 12f in the British Champions Fillies & Mares at Ascot, when landing another Group One on heavy ground.
The form of that race has worked out extremely well with the second going on to win a Group One, Third winning back to back Group Threes, sixth landing a Group Three and seventh taking out a decent Group Two.
🌟 WHAT A STAR!
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) August 19, 2021
❄️ SNOWFALL fires herself into favouritism for the Arc with another breathtaking performance in the Yorkshire Oaks!
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Wonderful Tonight also franked the form of the race next time out when stepping up in trip for the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood and winning nicely.
The next step on her road to the Arc was to head for the Yorkshire Oaks against Snowfall and she well and truly got put in her place, with the fast ground going against her and she had to settle for fourth, close to nine lengths behind the winner.
However, Menuisier has explained she is in fine form after the contest and all roads still lead to the French feature on October 3rd.
(Credit ATR) He said: “She’s absolutely fine.
“I am glad we went there, and I thought she had a good run.“The ground made her work a bit harder than when she runs on soft ground, which is the opposite of most horses.
“That’s why I’m glad we ran. She came out of the race really well and she answered a few of our questions.
“I’m delighted that she did. For now we’ll continue to do the right thing by her and for her and hope for the best.
“The Arc is still the target – more so than ever."