Shawanda on Target for Arc

Shawanda in DemandNews that Azamour will miss the Prix de L'Arc de Tromphe next week-end has seen further support for the Aga Khan's main representative Shawanda with VC Bet. "The Irish Oaks winner has attracted good support this week and is now a solid 3-1 second favourite behind Hurricane Run" commented VC Bet's Neal Wilkins, who added "If both horses run up to their top form next Sunday in Paris we are in for one hell of a race. Throw Motivator into the mix with a return to his Derby winning form and it will certainly justify its position as the richest race in Europe". Connections of leading Arc hope Shawanda believe the talented three-year-old has yet to hit top gear this season. Alain de Royer-Dupre's filly racked up her fifth consecutive win in only six outings with an easy success in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp this month. Although Shawanda's official winning distance was three-quarters of a length, jockey Christophe Soumillon was cruising throughout the mile and a half and eased his partner right down at the line. The Aga Khan's racing manager Georges Rimaud said: "We were very impressed with her in the Prix Vermeille but I think she is still improving. "The trainer did not think she was 100 per cent fit last time because she was carrying a little bit of weight. Hopefully we can get her fine-tuned for the Arc." The daughter of Sinndar has been delighting Royer-Dupre on the Chantilly gallops and is due to complete her preparations on Tuesday when she will have her final Arc workout VC Bet Hurricane Run 5/2 Shawanda 3/1 Motivator 4/1 Bago 8/1 Scorpion 10/1 Alkaased 12/1 Pride 16/1 Cherry Mix 20/1 Westerner 25/1 Shirocco 25/1 Warrsan 33/1 Others on request. EW 1/4 1,2,3