Petrushka heads for Longchamp

Dual Oaks winner Petrushka figures as part of a strong British entry in the Group One Prix de l'Opera over 10 furlongs at Longchamp…

Dual Oaks winner Petrushka figures as part of a strong British entry in the Group One Prix de l'Opera over 10 furlongs at Longchamp on Sunday. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained winner of the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks also has the option of taking in Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes 24 hours earlier depending upon the going at both courses.

The Longchamp race also numbers Henry Cecil's Vodafone Oaks winner Love Divine, among the 18 fillies and mares who stood their ground at the first acceptance stage yesterday.

Love Divine was fourth in the Prix Vermeille at the Paris course earlier in the month, when she reportedly found the ground too firm for her liking.

Meanwhile, Indian Lodge is to bid for his second Group One victory of the season in the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket next month. The four-year-old was rated unlucky by connections when seventh behind Observatory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last Saturday.

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Trainer Amanda Perrett said yesterday: "Indian Lodge is fine and now goes for the Champion Stakes. Possibly he was just a bit unlucky at Ascot. I think the ground was fine but I think he was just a little bit further back turning for home than he wanted to be."

Today's meeting at Nottingham hinges on a 7 a.m. precautionary inspection. "The course is currently raceable, but there is rain coming in from the west," said clerk of the course Charlie Moore yesterday.