Racing: O'Brien's Empire is directed towards France

The favourite for next year's Derby will be on view this weekend. The unfortunate news for any British racing enthusiast hoping for a glimpse of Second Empire is that the exciting two-year-old is running at Longchamp and is unlikely to grace these shores until he is a three-year-old.

The juvenile heads the eight acceptors for Sunday's Group One Grand Criterium over a mile and the Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien will be expecting his colt to enhance the reputation made when an impressive winner over the same course last month in the Group Three Prix des Chenes.

O'Brien has also left in his York winner Saratoga Springs. The Prix Morny winner, Charge D'Affaires, is one of four French acceptors.

Borgia, a strong-finishing third to Peintre Celebre in last Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, has been entered by his German connections in December's Hong Kong International Vase in Sha Tin, won last year by Clive Brittain's Luso.