Persian King Lands the Prix du Moulin

Persian King produced a shattering display Sept. 6 to confirm his place at the top table among Europe's elite milers, leaving supporters of the fast-finishing Pinatubo to rue the way a fascinating and pulsating Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) played out.

In the aftermath of his 1 3/4-length victory over Pinatubo, Persian King's trainer, Andre Fabre, proclaimed the colt to be the equal of Palace Pier at the summit of the division, although the master trainer will now set his sights on a step up in trip to crown a season in which the son of Kingman has taken his group 1 tally from one to three.

Fabre had not hidden his confidence beforehand about Persian King's chances, telling the Racing Post that he was "happier than ever with his condition and his work," while even the less observant among paddock-watchers will have noted a horse who stripped much fitter and leaner than earlier in the season.

"It was obviously a very good race with almost the best of both generations, so what can you say?" said Fabre. "You can consider him the best European miler, matched alongside the Marois winner. He's the same class as Palace Pier."

In comparison to the 3-year-olds, Pinatubo and Siskin, Persian King was shown relatively little love by the betting public after his no-show on deep ground in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1).

However, in the wake of this pounding performance, he was cut by Ladbrokes from 20-1 into 7-1 for the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1), while the same firm makes him a 20-1 chance should connections roll the dice over his stamina in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

"He had some issues, which meant I couldn't train him properly until now," Fabre said. "But now he is really fit and he showed how good he really is.

"I always thought that he could go a bit further, so he is entered in the Champion Stakes and he is entered in the Arc. I didn't enter him in the mile race at Ascot."

While Fabre was claiming a seventh Moulin, winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot was tasting success for the first time, and he was quick to deflect any credit for his positive ride in the slipstream of Circus Maximus early on, when the pair went clear of the four horses in behind, who were being ridden for their turn of foot.

"Last time out, the ground was atrocious, and while I'm delighted he's won today, he has always been a great horse," Boudot said.

"I wouldn't say I've ridden anything other than a regular race, but I'm lucky to work for a genius, and the horse had a great run up to this race and arrived here in top form."

Godolphin has a half-share in Persian King alongside the Wildenstein family, as well as being the owner/breeder of the runner-up, and in reality, there was always likely to be a tension between what would suit a horse who had won the Prix d'Ispahan (G1) and been second in a Jockey Club, as opposed to the more fleet-of-foot Pinatubo.

Reflecting on the race, Pinatubo's jockey, James Doyle, said: "It's annoying when the front two get a break on you like that, but we were mindful of the mile and we wanted to ride him patiently.

"I followed Siskin and he elected to give the front two a bit of a gap, and he's a horse that, when you do pull him into space, he lights up, so we just had to sit and suffer. He's made up a lot of ground, and the mile is definitely no problem."

Palace Pier Shortens for QEII

Persian King was bouncing back from a disappointing fourth in last month's Prix Jacques le Marois, behind the impressive Palace Pier.

Following the defeat of Pinatubo, Siskin and Circus Maximus here, Coral shortened Palace Pier to 4-5 (from evens) for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) on Champions Day next month.

Circus Maximus was only able to lead Persian King until the entry to the home straight, but he stuck on with resolution to be third, albeit six lengths behind Pinatubo.

"He has run very well and is very consistent," said Alan Cooper, the racing manager to co-owners the Niarchos Family. "We were at our best today, but so was Persian King and he proved too strong.

"The various parties will discuss the future, but he has options like the QEII Stakes and the Breeders' Cup."

Persian King Lives Up to Pedigree with Third Group 1 Score

From the first crop of Juddmonte's sire sensation, the 4-year-old had been beaten into fourth behind Palace Pier in the Prix Jacques le Marois last month, but flew past the frontrunning Circus Maximus to secure the mile prize. The fast-finishing Pinatubo was second but was never close enough to lay a glove on the winner.

Having won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) last year and the Prix d'Ispahan in July, the Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred-owned colt was further cementing the position of Kingman as one of Europe's leading sires.

Out of the winning Dylan Thomas mare Pretty Please, who is a half sister to group 1 winner Planteur and the stakes-winning Pilote D'Essai, Persian King is the first pattern winner for his dam.

She has since produced the once-raced 3-year-old Australia filly Petite Folie, while she failed to get in foal when sent to Golden Horn the following year and Kingman the next twice. She visited Dubawi this time around.

Chachnak provided further luster to Kingman's excellent afternoon when prevailing in the Prix du Prince d'Orange (G3). The colt is out of the Danehill Dancer mare Tamazirte and is a half brother to grade 3-placed Into The Mystic.