Cirrus des Aigles Handily Wins Third Ganay
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Cirrus des Aigles set the pace and repelled a bid from Al Kazeem to land the Prix Ganay (Fr-I) for the third time May 3 at Longchamp.
With his 9-year-old legs pumping strongly through the final furlong, the Even Top gelding found more when asked by Christophe Soumillon, turned back the runner-up, and pulled clear to a 1 3/4-length victory in his season bow.
Seven-year-old Al Kazeen, the 6-4 favorite with Racing Post, outfinished Fate by three lengths for second in the seven-horse field.
Cirrus des Aigles completed the 2,100-meter (about 1 5/16 miles) in 2:18.07 on turf rated as very soft. Victor in the Prix Ganay in 2012 and 2014, he won for the seventh time at the top level and earned a 19th stakes victory. He has an overall record of 22-20-6 from 62 career starts for trainer Corinne Barande-Barbe.
"He never surprises me when he wins, but he surprised me today that he won so well," Barande-Barbe told England's Press Association, adding that her runner will be aimed at the Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-I) May 24 at Longchamp. "He has lots of options, including the Coronation Cup (Eng-I, June 6 at Epsom).
"He just did it so easily today, despite having had so much use made of him. I'd have to say he is better than ever looking at that.
"Al Kazeem had already had a run and won, so was fitter than us. It was our first run since December (a fourth-place finish in the Longines Hong Kong Cup, HK-I), but he won so easily."