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Qatar Racing and Equestrain Club (QREC) chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani (extreme left) is seen with the winners of the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein at the Longchamp race course yesterday. picture by: osama faisal
PARIS: French equine great Cirrus des Aigles became the first horse to win the Group Two Prix Dollar three times at Longchamp yesterday and take his prize money close to 5m euros.
The seven-year-old gelding -- who was recording his 18th career win and has only ever finished outside the first three on 10 of the 51 occasions he has raced -- dispelled any notions of a waning of his talent as he coasted to victory under Christophe Soumillon.
Soumillon, who has only regained the ride on him earlier this year, had the ideal preparation for his ride on Japanese star Orfevre in Europe’s most prestigious race the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe today as Cirrus completed a Group Two race double for him.
“This horse is remarkable. I felt like he had four extra gears compared to the other runners when I sent him to the front two furlongs out,” he said.
“Like all intelligent horses he knows when to make the effort and when to restrain himself, he accepts his limits.
“We have the target of the Champion Stakes at Ascot in a fortnight and as long as it isn’t too soft there we have a real chance as this year there is no Frankel!” added Soumillon, who rode Cirrus to victory in the Champion Stakes two years ago but wasn’t on him when he finished second to the unbeaten Frankel last year.
Cirrus’ trainer Corinne Barbe was almost in tears at the latest chapter in the horse’s extraordinary career.
“He really touches me this horse, with his generous spirit, his courage and his ability, he is truly very special,” she said.
Soumillon had got his weekend off in perfect style as he brought the Aga Khan-owned Valirann home in the Group Two Prix Chaudenay for his fourth successive win.
Soumillon, a two-time Arc winner, timed his challenge to perfection on the Alain de Royer Dupre trained three-year-old to overhaul long-time leader Nearly Caught and then held off the challenges of Montclair, Lucky Look and another Aga Khan-owned runner Darbadar.
He held on by a neck from Montclair while Lucky Look was a short head adrift in third.
“I followed Mr de Royer Dupre’s instructions,” said the 32-year-old Belgian-born riding ace, who last month was re-appointed as principal jockey for the Aga Khan for next season after losing the job in 2009 apparently for making disparaging remarks about trainer Andre Fabre.
“He showed great acceleration, I was afraid that the Aga’s other horse would pass me on the outside but my horse held on really well and showed great courage.”
While Soumillon has over 2,000 wins under his belt in France a young jockey who promises as much in the years to come Flavian Prat celebrated his first group race win with Longchamp specialist Pollyana in the Group Two Prix Daniel Wildenstein.
Prat brought the Didier Prudhomme-trained filly with a powerful run in the final furlong to take her record to six wins and one runners-up spot in seven starts at Longchamp -- although she was completely disregarded in the betting winning at 28/1.
AFP
