Ireland, successful with Ridgewood Pearl in 1995, has a strong hand in the Emirates Prix du Moulin at Longchamp tomorrow with Aidan O'Brien running last month's impressive Desmond Stakes winner Second Empire (John Reid) and Mempari (Cash Asmussen).
The O'Brien pair take on six rivals in the Group One one-mile event in which Desert Prince and Almushtarak bid to improve Britain's recent record. All At Sea in 1992 was the last British winner.
The David Loder-trained Desert Prince (to be ridden by Olivier Peslier) returns to the scene of his third in the French 2,000 Guineas in May, having since won the Irish equivalent and finished second in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He must defy a near three-month lay-off whereas Kamil Mahdi turns Almushtarak (Ray Cochrane) out again quickly after his second in the Tripleprint Celebration Mile at Goodwood last Saturday.
Seeking The Pearl (Yutaka Take) bids to follow up her Prix Maurice de Gheest triumph for Japan, while the three home-trained contenders are Zalaiyka (Gerald Mosse), Gold Away (Olivier Doleuze) and Miss Berbere (Dominique Boeuf).
James Fanshawe's Invermark (Peslier) is one of five runners in the Group Three Prix Gladiateur over 15 1/2 furlongs on the same card.
