The Scarcroft-based handler saddled the speedy Captain Rio to success in the valuable event in 2001 and would love to be fired back into the big time with Quanah Parker at the weekend.

''Believe it or not, Captain Rio winning this race and going on to prove himself as a Group horse did not have any effect on the number of horses I was sent,'' reflected Whitaker.

''You would have thought I would have been sent a few more from somewhere, but I was much busier in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

''Rio was a great horse – he went on to prove himself and now he has carried that on at stud, he's one of the leading sires.

''This horse (Quanah Parker) won the same maiden at Ripon last time that Captain Rio won and we were going to take him to Ayr, but the ground was desperate.

''I haven't had a good look at the race yet, though, so I wouldn't be able to say what sort of a chance he'd have – I just saw there were 50-odd entries in there.

''Saturday is a long way off yet.''

A total of 23 horses, including Zarkava and Duke Of Marmalade, have stood their ground for Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

The most prestigious race in the European racing calendar, it now carries a $6.7m prize fund making it the richest race in the world on turf.

Alain de Royer-Dupre's Zarkava will attempt to extend her unbeaten record to seven and become the first filly since Urban Sea in 1993 to win the race.

Her most formidable opposition is likely to come from Ballydoyle with Aidan O'Brien looking to follow up Dylan Thomas's victory of 12 months ago with five-time Group One winner Duke Of Marmalade and Soldier Of Fortune.

The Coolmore battalion have also left in Septimus, Song Of Hiawatha, Red Rock Canyon, King Of Rome and King Of Westphalia.

French Derby winner Vision D'Etat retained his unbeaten record in the Prix Niel last time and will attempt to put his trainer Eric Libaud firmly on the map.

Youmzain was viewed as an unfortunate loser by many last year when he flashed home to take second and will have the assistance of Richard Hills in the saddle this year.

Sir Michael Stoute's duo of Papal Bull and Ask remain as does Andre Fabre's Getaway.

Japan's Meisho Samson is still a possible and while Curlin remains among the entries, he has just been transferred to Santa Anita to prepare for a possible Breeders' Cup run.