Cirrus des Aigles flies in for Dollar domination
Tracking the head of the pack in fourth for the early part of the race, Peslier exuded confidence aboard the son of Even Top when angling into the false straight at Longchamp and began to release Cirrus des Aigles for his finishing effort.
As Cirrus des Aigles and Olivier Peslier took one final right turn towards the duo of finishing posts that are ever present on Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe weekend, the partnership had pushed ahead for a six of seven length advantage with their rivals toying in their wake. Passed one finishing post, then the other, Cirrus Des Aigles eventually ran out a comfortable nine length victor over the fast, but never catching, Godolphin horse, Hunters Light.
Cirrus des Aigles has been frighteningly consistent in domination of his French counterparts this season. However, a recent positive drugs test for a substantial dose of a banned anti-inflammatory drug shook the French racing circuit to its knees. "It's been hard for me these past few months" said trainer Barande-Barbe, "That'll put him spot on for Ascot and Frankel now".
This wasn't the normal result you'd expect from a race in which a positive drugs test was located. The Prix d'Ispahan, the race in which the positive drugs test was taken from, saw Cirrus des Aigles produce his worst performance for almost two years. Connections deny any wrong doing, citing foul play from unconnected persons unknown, and the passionate defence from trainer Corine Barande-Barbe does little to suggest they had knowingly administered the drug.
To be plain, why would they? They have the superstar of French racing who, unable to run in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe because of his status as a gelding, had been powering away from his rivals clean with a minimum of fuss.
Cirrus des Aigles may still remain under investigation, yet a date with Frankel in the QIPCO British Champion Stakes draws ever nearer with each passing day. To the French, the shrewd and the race fan, Cirrus des Aigles' mouthwatering turn of foot when angling into French straights suggests he could, and should, throw down the most serious challenge to Frankel yet, intriguingly, in his final race.
Frankel may have skipped the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe this year and, in all honesty, a renewal of the race that would've answered very little in victory given the level of competition remaining in the field. The QIPCO British Champion Stakes provides the perfect battle between England and France, an undefeated Champion against the defending Champion.
What a tantalising proposition.