Hurricane Lane Annihilates Field in Grand Prix de Paris

Hurricane Lane  enhanced both his burgeoning reputation and Charlie Appleby's astonishing season with his middle-distance 3-year-olds when annihilating his rivals in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) July 14.

Last month's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) hero was tackling a much softer surface at ParisLongchamp than for his narrow classic success at the Curragh but it did not show as he proved in a class of his own on Bastille Day. 

He is now 11-2 co-favorite alongside Snowfall  and Love  with bet365 to win the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) back in Paris in October.

Sent off the 17-10 favorite here, Hurricane Lane sat second for most of the contest under William Buick, just off the pace dictated by The Mediterranean . His rider pushed go at two furlongs out and the race was over soon enough, with the son of Frankel  leaving his rivals toiling in the mud.

Buick said: "It was a more straightforward race for me than in Ireland. We were better placed today and the ground was maybe a little bit kinder on him. But I think he's improved again.

"Credit to Charlie and the team at home to get him out of the Irish Derby. He had a hard race there, and they were adamant this was a good target for him and they've been repaid.

"I was really impressed with him today. He keeps getting quicker. In Ireland he showed a bit of a turn of foot. And then today, I know the ground is slow today but it's quite a quick track. You run downhill and then the straight is dead flat; there's no rise in it. He really picked up. He put it to bed really quick. He's improved again, and he's just a very good horse."

Wordsworth , one of three trained by Aidan O'Brien, was a distant second, with Alenquer  sticking on from off the pace to finish third for William Haggas.

Hurricane Lane's latest success, following wins in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante (G2) and Irish Derby, continued Appleby and Godolphin's remarkable run with the classic generation over middle distances.

Adayar , who is set to run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot next week, won last month's Cazoo Derby (G1), while geldings Kemari  and Yibir  have won the Queen's Vase (G2) and Bahrain Trophy (G3), respectively, in recent weeks.

Separating all that middle-distance talent in the months to come may prove tricky for Appleby back at his Moulton Paddocks base in Newmarket, but Buick expects a return to Longchamp for the Arc will be high on the agenda for Hurricane Lane.

Buick added: "Charlie will speak to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and they will make a plan for the horse. I would say one eye will certainly be back here in October."