Mark Zahra is committed to a flight to Paris on Thursday even though he may not have a ride at Longchamp over the weekend. 

Zahra is booked to ride Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) on Sunday, but there is a chance the 2021 Melbourne Cup winner may not make the field. 

Verry Elleegant is currently number 22 in the Order of Entry into the race and connections have to make the decision on whether to chance their arm of sneaking into the race or taking the option of starting in the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu (2800m) the previous day. 

Under French rules, Verry Elleegant is precluded from being an acceptor in both races. 

"She'll run in one, hopefully," Zahra said. 

"I'm flying out on Thursday night. It would be nice to have a ride in the Arc, but if not, I've got a live chance in a Group 1 the day before. 

"It's not the end of the world." 

Zahra said it was a relatively easy decision to make to leave Melbourne for the weekend, especially after Gold Trip failed to get his weight in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

Gold Trip had only 54.5kg in Saturday's race and will be ridden by Jamie Kah while he was also likely to ride Artzino, Doull and Argentia in their respective Flemington races. 

"Time will tell whether it's a costly weekend or not," Zahra said. 

"Originally, I thought I'm going to ride in the Arc, something to cross off the bucket list, but it's a bit of a different story now. 

"I've just got to make the most of what it is and if she doesn't get a run, I've just got to think to myself I won't have too many chances to ride a multiple Group 1 winner like her in France. 

"If worse comes to the worst, I've got a weekend in Paris." 

Zahra has only ridden Verry Elleegant on three occasions, winning the 2020 Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup before going on to finish seventh in the Melbourne Cup that year.