Europe's top three-year-old Montjeu could still take on Royal Anthem, Daylami and Dream Well next Saturday in a fascinating clash of the generations.
John Hammond stressed yesterday that the Esat Digifone Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown remains an option for the colt, officially rated the best of the Classic generation after his wins in the French and Irish Derbys.
That would see Montjeu taking on the four-year-old Royal Anthem, eight-length winner of the Juddmonte International at York, Dream Well, winner of last year's Budweiser Irish Derby and the year-older King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes scorer Daylami.
It had been thought that the French colt would instead use next Sunday's Prix Niel at Longchamp as his stepping-stone to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for which he is ante-post favourite.
Montjeu has been rested since his wide-margin wins in the Prix du Jockey-Club (by four lengths) and Budweiser Irish Derby (five lengths) in June.
Rossini will represent Aidan O'Brien in Thursday's Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and the Ballydoyle trainer has not ruled out a classic attempt by Moon Dragon on Saturday's St Leger.
The unbeaten Rossini has already struck at Group 2 level in Deauville's Prix Robert Papin and O'Brien said yesterday: "Rossini is a strong possible for the Champagne."
O'Brien described Moon Dragon as a "possible" for the St Leger but with Michael Kinane likely to be at Leopardstown, no riding arrangements have been fixed. Before that Dermot Weld will run Lisieux Rose in Wednesday's Group 3 Park Hill Stakes.
