Racing: Bago sharpens up for Prix Ganay

Bago is pleasing connections ahead of his seasonal debut in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on Sunday. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner has not run since his triumph at the track last October.

Bago is pleasing connections ahead of his seasonal debut in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on Sunday. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner has not run since his triumph at the track last October.

Alan Cooper, racing manager for the horse's owners, the Niarchos family, reported that the four-year-old has performed well on the gallops ahead of the extended 10-furlong contest. "He is in good form. He has wintered well and is ready for his first race since the Arc," he said.

Cooper added that their leading three-year-old filly Divine Proportions is in good shape for her seasonal debut in Sunday's Group Three Prix de la Grotte. "She is in good order. We just thought she wouldn't be fighting fit for the English 1,000 Guineas and preferred to take in the Grotte on the way to the French 1,000," he added.

William Haggas is to unleash his two Lockinge Stakes entries, Brunel and Polar Bear, in warm-up races on Saturday. Brunel, winner of last year's German 2,000 Guineas, is to make his seasonal debut at Sandown, while Polar Bear is under orders for the Leicestershire Stakes at Leicester. "Both seem to be in terrific form, but my team seem to be a bit rusty at the moment," said the Newmarket trainer yesterday.

* There will be an inspection at Leopardstown at 8am on Friday ahead of Sunday's fixture.