Brave Emperor added to his growing international prize haul when taking the Group 3 Prix Daphnis at Deauville on Sunday and could return to France for the ‘Arc’ meeting.
The three-year-old has been boldly campaigned by trainer Archie Watson, picking up the Listed Prix de la Californie at Cagnes-sur-Mer and the Group 3 Grosser Preis der Wohnstatte Krefeld in Germany in the early part of the season. He produced a big effort to finish third in the Group 3 Stockholms Stora Pris at Bro Park in Sweden before a disappointing run at Royal Ascot.
Victory in the Group 3 Prix Daphnis marked a return to form for the son of Sioux Nation and connections are keen to continue their international travels.
"There's a small cohort of owners who follow him around. They've been to Sweden, they've been to Germany and they've been to France twice. He's well supported wherever he goes and has a bit of a cult following here at Middleham Park," said Middleham Park Racing's manager Tom Palin.
"We're probably going to have to start looking at bigger, sexier and dare I say scarier things with him going forward, but he's fully entitled to now.
"The Wildenstein would be lovely and a very sensible target and we could look at the Prix du Moulin before then. I know that's a Group One, but you are into Group Two/Group One territory now.
"We love to get our owners over for the Arc meeting if we can, it's a meeting that's served us well in the past, and maybe we'll take in the Moulin on the way. It's that or a Group Two in Germany, I think.
Owners Middleham Park Racing considered a visit to the USA for the three-year-old earlier in the year, following his qualification for the Kentucky Derby. Although they opted for European targets instead, the USA remains firmly on the radar.
"I quite like the idea of the Wildenstein and then who knows, it could be onto the Breeders' Cup. Archie and I have briefly mentioned that, but let's see," Palin added.
"Of course he's going to have to improve, but that attitude he possesses is a huge asset, so why not give him a spin in those kind of races? You're probably pitching him in for places, but who knows?"
