Trainer Francis Graffard has already succeeded in producing a second placing in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with In Swoop. This year, he has the four-year-old French horse Sealiway. Speaking with Francis a few days before the event, the trainer appears relaxed.

In the forest of Chantilly, Francis Graffard casts a calm eye over his horses as Sealiway canters past him. With less than a week before the Arc the trainer will also be fielding Verry Elleegant on Saturday in the Prix de Royallieu "Both are in great shape. They will reach 150% of their resources on D-Day".

Sealiway, the thrill for Haras de la Gousserie

Sealiway is owned to Haras de la Gousserie. Crowned the best French two and then three-year-old of his generation he has won on good and soft to heavy ground over distances from 1200 to 2100m. Making his comeback in early September attempting the Coupe de Maisons Laffitte at Longchamp, Sealiway has been fine-tuning since. Francis Graffard stated: "Sealiway – I'm very happy with him. He is really good mentally and physically and we know that a very soft ground will benefit him, confirms". Fifth in the Arc last year on heavy ground, he is a consistent performer with a record of sixteen starts and only finishing outside the top five once. He will be reunited with the jockey who has been faithful to him for a long time, Mickaël Barzalona, a jockey who won an Epsom Derby but is yet to snare an Arc.

Verry Elleegant – Arc Dream Thwarted

She is a champion in Australia but in France, it has been difficult to gain a fair read of how she rates. Finishing last on her comeback race at Deauville, she then finished third in her Arc prep race the Qatar Prix Foy. Unfortunately, her rating was not high enough to be guaranteed a start in the Arc, so her weekend target is now the Prix de Royallieu, a G1 race for fillies and mares over 2880m run on Saturday. Verry Elleegant is showing progress both sportingly and physically.

"Verry Elleegant is well on the way, confirms Francis Graffard. That was what I was hoping for. I had chosen the Prix Foy rather than the Vermeille. She's made really good progress there. She lost her winter coat and she is more and more beautiful. The soft track should favour her.

Australian jockey Mark Zahra has flown from Australia to ride the mare, a cheeky yet logical choice as he knows her well, despite not being familiar with Longchamp where he will be having his first ride at the course. The Verry Elleegant team declared on social media: "We are delighted to announce that champion Australian jockey Mark Zahra will ride Verry Elleegant in the Arc! [sic, posted before she came out of the Arc]. Mark reunites with our champion mare having won two Group 1s on her, including an absolute peach in the Caulfield Cup" (Australia's best known and hardest 2400m race).

Mark Zahra quickly explained how he was going to proceed to get his bearings at Longchamp."I have spoken to Frankie Dettori. He said we could walk the track. It is so exciting. I love these big races. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said.