RACING:GOLDEN LILAC got the better of the hat-trick-seeking Cirrus Des Aigles to make a winning seasonal reappearance in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp yesterday.
Cirrus Des Aigles was unsurprisingly the 4 to 7 favourite following victories in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan and the Prix Ganay at Longchamp.
But he had no answer when Golden Lilac (6 to 1) was switched from the rail to challenge by Maxime Guyon, with Andre Fabre’s filly showing a potent turn of foot to get on top close home.
Planteur, the Marco Botti-trained Dubai World Cup third, occupied the same position in this nine-furlong Group One. Penitent, trained in North Yorkshire by David O’Meara, finished last.
All appeared to be going well for Cirrus Des Aigles at the halfway stage, with Corine Barande-Barbe’s pride and joy bowling along merrily at the head of affairs under Olivier Peslier.
But Golden Lilac, last year’s French 1,000 Guineas and French Oaks heroine, was going equally well in the favourite’s slipstream and showed the better acceleration when it mattered.
Planteur ran a perfectly respectable race and was not beaten far.
Ivory Land showed boundless enthusiasm to win the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier. The Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained stayer tracked eventual runner-up Usuelo for virtually every stride of the Group Two assignment, before making his move late in the day.
Stephane Pasquier’s partner (8 to 1) was still full of running as they crossed the line, with the Marco Botti-trained Joshua Tree (4 to 1 co-favourite) an honourable fourth. Popular veteran Kasbah Bliss was on a distinctly non-going day and was never a factor.
Sagawara showed a commendable attitude in adversity to win the Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the three-year-old daughter of Shamardal had just enough in the tank to deny the onrushing Rjwa.
The Aga Khan-owned Sagawara was always close to a lackadaisical pace set by Hasna, before taking a narrow lead inside the final furlong. Several horses still had a live chance at that stage, but Lemaire had plotted his fractions to perfection and prevailed at odds of 9 to 4. Forces Of Darkness finished third in the Group One over 10 furlongs.
La Peinture, the even-money favourite, came from too far back under Olivier Peslier to take fourth spot. Sagawara still holds entries in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
Bated Breath booked his place in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next month by breaking the course record in the Betfred.comTemple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.
The 2 to 1 favourite came through the test with flying colours as he travelled supremely well in the hands of George Baker and held off the late thrust of last year’s winner, the Eddie Lynam-trained Sole Power, who also broke the course record, by a neck.
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