Dylan Browne McMonagle retains his ride on Simmering for the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, despite missing the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe opportunity on Al Riffa.
Dylan Browne McMonagle may miss the chance to partner with Al Riffa in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but he will still be riding Simmering, a supplemented entry, in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac on Sunday. McMonagle has regularly ridden Joseph O'Brien's Arc contender, guiding the son of Wootton Bassett to both of his Group One wins, including the recent victory in the Grosser Preis von Berlin.
However, Al Riffa's owner, Masaaki Matsushima, has given the opportunity to Japanese veteran Yutake Take to ride at ParisLongchamp this weekend, leaving McMonagle without a mount in Europe's most lucrative middle-distance race. Despite this, McMonagle will still participate at the Bois de Boulogne, as Ollie Sangster has enlisted him to ride his prized filly, Simmering, once again.
The pair teamed up successfully to win the Group Two Prix du Calvados in Deauville during the summer. The Irishman was also riding when the Manton horse finished behind Lake Victoria, who later won the Cheveley Park Stakes, in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland. 'Dylan is going to ride her again. He has ridden her in the last two starts and is performing very well. He knows her and was available, and we're very happy to have him,' said Sangster.
The connections had to pay EURO 28,800 to include Simmering in the Boussac line-up, where she is set to renew her Moyglare rivalry with Aidan O'Brien's Bedtime Story and also compete against the unbeaten French filly Zarigana. Nonetheless, Sangster notes that this race has always been planned for the talented daughter of Too Darn Hot, particularly after her change of ownership following her impressive performance at Royal Ascot behind Fairy Godmother.
"Since Al Shaqab bought her, this race has been tentatively planned, although she wasn't actually entered at the time, so we've had to add her," continued Sangster. "It's a significant weekend for their team with numerous participants, as it's sponsored by Qatar, and the owners were eager to have her compete. She came out of the Moyglare in good condition and has been training well since then. It's a competitive race, but we're excited to take her there."
Other horses being supplemented for Sunday's Group One events include John and Sean Quinn's Breege, who joins the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner, Big Rock, in being added to the Prix de la Foret. Additionally, Alicja Karkosa's Prix La Rochette runner-up, Heybetli, joins the contenders in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
