- Aventure made joint favourite for Arc after Vermeille romp

- Japanese Arc hopes ignited with Byzantine Dream winning Foy

- Sahlan surprises in Prix du Moulin

- Cualificar books Arc ticket with win in Niel

All roads lead back to Longchamp for last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe second Aventure, as she had the ideal preparation for the autumn showpiece with an easy victory in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille.

Christophe Ferland's four-year-old has made little mistake during the 2025 campaign, suffering her only defeat when second behind subsequent King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Calandagan. As an older filly, she was required to give weight away to both dual Group 1 winner Whirl and Prix de Diane heroine Gezora.

Settled in a good position behind the early leaders by jockey Maxime Guyon, it turned into a straightforward task for Aventure, who pulled away from the field at the 200m marker and was unchallenged all the way to the line. Gezora kept on well to finish second, with Bedtime Story a narrow third. Aidan O'Brien's Whirl, who was expected to play a significant role, faded tamely in the closing stages.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Ferland said: "It's fantastic, she won very well. When she came out in the straight, she produced good acceleration and I was very confident all the way. I am very pleased.

"My mission was to win a Group 1 with her, it's done and it's a good day.

"We're going for [the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe], she will be better in four weeks time. She's coming along now, I don't think she's at her best in the summer; before June or July. I have no ground concerns, she will go as fast as she has today if it's heavy.

"She's got a big heart, she's calm, she's perfect."

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The best of the European horses were easily defeated in the Group 2 Prix Foy, run over the same course and distance as the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with the Japanese-trained Byzantine Dream triumphing.

Trainer Tomoyasu Sakaguchi's charge had proven form over longer distances internationally, winning the 1m7f Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia before returning to Japan for a second in the two-mile Grade 1 Tenno Sho.

It appeared to a difficult task for the first of two Japanese-trained runners on Arc Trials Day, with a host of Group 1 performers lining up for the Prix Foy including Andre Fabré's

Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Sosie and the Aidan O'Brien trained Los Angeles, victorious in the Group 1Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Ridden by British-based jockey Oisin Murphy, Byzantine Dream was settled towards the rear of the field in the early stages and made eye-catching progress behind the trio of Los Angeles, Sosie and Almaqam at the two-and-a-half furlong marker. Angled out to make his final challenge, the four-year-old battled hard in the final strides for a half-length success over Sosie with Almaqam a narrow third.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, jockey Oisin Murphy said: "He broke well but the horse beside him stumbled, nearly clipping a heel for a stride. He relaxed immediately, the pace wasn't super fast, I was able to sit behind Maxime Guyon. He didn't do a lot in front – we found that in Saudi, he ran around – so I hoped he would get there with hands and heels and today has set him up perfectly for the big race [the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe].

"I was only concerned about the ground. I feel that he's a weak stayer over extended distances, he has a very good turn of foot. He's beaten a high-class field today.

"He's a lot heavier, he's thicker in the crest today. He hasn't run since May but he did two nice bits of work, he hasn't been difficult in the build-up to this race. I'd hope he could be an even better horse come Arc weekend, if he gets his underfoot conditions."

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Francis-Henri Graffard's Sahlan caused a surprise in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, defeating British raider Rosallion in a thrilling photo finish.

The son of Wootton Bassett had not shown enough form during his three-year-old campaign to anticipate that he would be able to defeat his elders in a competitive renewal of the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, achieving his first win of the year in the Group 3 Prix Daphnis at Deauville in mid-August.

It was a straightforward task for jockey Mickael Barzalona, with Sahlan was keen but well covered behind the strong pace set by Alcantor and Aidan O'Brien's Serengeti in the early stages. As the field spread out in the final straight, Barzalona faced no traffic and was able to make eye-catching progress. At the 100m marker, Sahlan was travelling the best and stayed on strongly to deny the late run of Rosallion in a photo finish.

In an interview with Sky Sports Racing, Graffard said: "You have to thank the owners for respecting my opinion and trust me to take on a big challenge. Today was a big challenge. I said to HRH Sheikh Joaan - I didn't have many options for the horse, I think he's in very good form, he can quicken. It's a big gamble, but if we're in the first five, we have nothing to lose.

"He believed in me and it's paid off nicely. I always liked this horse, he's been beaten twice. In the Poule d'Essai, we had a lot of excuses and I couldn't blame the horse. "He was sick when he was beaten in the Listed race and then he won a Group 3 comfortably.

"I had the support, and I'm very happy. I don't think I will run him again on soft ground here. If he's well, we might look to the Breeders' Cup Mile but he's a horse we will likely keep as a four-year-old. That's the softest ground we'd look to run him on."

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André Fabre's Cualificar earnt his place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe line-up and continued his run of strong three-year-old form with a victory in the Group 2 Prix Niel.

Unbeaten on his first three outings as a three-year-old, including in the Prix de Guiche, Cualificar produced a career-best performance when second in the Prix du Jockey Club.

Trying a mile-and-a-half for the first time, Cualificar was always handy under William Buick but encountered a lack of racing room at the 400m marker, bumping shoulders with Parachutist. As Bay City Roller began to make a challenge, a gap opened for the pair and Cualificar responded best, making up ground in the closing strides to defeat Bay City Roller by a neck. Parachutist kept on for third.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Fabre said: "It's an impressive win for sure, but this is just a preparation for the Arc. It's what I was hoping and expecting with the extra two furlongs.

"He became quite heavy this summer, so I thought he would need an extra race."