PARIS, Oct 1: It’s been a long wait but here at Longchamp on Sunday Bago can become the first winner of two successive Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes since Alleged in 1977-78.

The four-year-old colt may not have been in the peak of form like he was last year when he won three Goup Ones including the Arc in terrific style but his camp said earlier this week that he was in tip top form.

Opposing him in what is considered the championship race for middle distance horses - with over a million euros to the winner - in the Northern Hemisphere will be 14 rivals including two outstanding candidates for the laurels, Irish Derby winner Hurricane Run and Irish Oaks champion Shawanda.

However Bago has been there and done that as they say and his sole success this season in four outings has been at Longchamp in the Prix Ganay at the beginning of his campaign and the racing manager of the Niarchos Family, Alan Cooper, said they were confident of a big run.

“Jonathan (Pease his trainer) is happy with him (Bago) and all his horses are coming in to form at the moment which is pleasing,” said the urbane Irishman.

“A year on from his first Arc he is more mature physically and mentally.”

Cooper admitted that his early season form had not been what they had hoped for.

“He put in two below par performances especially at the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud but then we discovered he had a back complaint.

Hurricane Run, though, will pose many a problem for Bago after an eyecatching and perhaps ill-judged run — under Christophe Soumillon in the French Derby when he was second to Shammardal and then an impressive win in the Irish equivalent, though his win in the Prix Niel last month showed his one weakness in that he hangs right and a repeat of that on Sunday could cost him the race.—AFP