Cirrus des Aigles three-peats in Prix Dollar

Twelve months ago, when Cirrus des Aigles romped to a nine-length success in

the Group 2 Prix Dollar, he had already won in 2010 prior to making Frankel work

slightly harder than usual in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. The idea that he

would start off at a huge 7-5 in Saturday's renewal at Longchamp seemed

ludicrous.

What had passed in between had cast understandable doubts as to whether he

had suffered one of the sharp falls which can blight veterans of the turf, and

he re-entered the fray with three unplaced efforts in five starts and a surprise

defeat by Petit Chevalier in the Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville August 10.

With some spice added back into his racing experience due to Corine

Barande-Barbe's smart and ultimately successful re-introduction to a straight

track in the September 20 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte, it was quickly clear

here that the bay was traveling with all of his old verve behind the leaders.

Cruising to the lead with Christophe Soumillon still sitting pretty with a

quarter-mile to race, he was soon in command and was able to be geared down to

enjoy his Champion warm-up and exceed the €5

million barrier.

"I have kept the faith in him, but he has taken time to come back to his best

after his accident in Hong Kong," his trainer said. "He showed good signs at

Deauville and last time and today was his true form on ground he likes. I always

said he would be back at Ascot and that is where he will be in two weeks' time."

Settled towards the rear by Flavien Prat throughout the early stages,

Pollyana had a wide trip throughout but avoided traffic down towards the rail as

a result and had a clear passage to gradually wear down Pinturicchio in the

final 50 meters in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

Claimed out of the Robert Collet stable at Clairefontaine in July 2011,

Pollyana was back in claiming company last summer before improving to capture a

handicap over a mile and the Prix Casimir Delamarre over nine furlongs later in

October. Fourth in the Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud at the start of November, the

bay had been confined to just two subsequent starts when second in the May 21

Prix de Montretout and third in the Prix du Palais-Royal at the start of June.

"We have been waiting for soft ground, but she has been in training the whole

time and never missed a beat," trainer Didier Prod'homme explained. "It is a

lovely story, with her coming out of a claimer and being a nervous type at one

stage, but she has got better and better and more relaxed with each race. She

loves Longchamp and soft ground and was a fresh filly today against some horses

who have had a tough time of it, so that was to her advantage.

"She is entered in the sales at Newmarket at the end of the year and I will

have to talk to the owner, but that is probably where she will go."

Still a maiden entering the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu, Ebiyza had offered a

glimpse of the required class when a latest promising third in the Prix Joubert

over 12 furlongs at Saint-Cloud September 16, and had been supplemented by her

expert connections. In the event, she was on the right side of a stewards'

inquiry after coming off marginally second best to the subsequently demoted

Chalnetta.

Settled behind that prominent rival by Christophe Lemaire as the steady early

pace was dictated by her stable companion Mila, the chestnut was sent in pursuit

of Chalnetta as she was left in the lead passing the quarter pole. Getting

closer with every stride in the closing 100 meters, she received a bump from the

eventual winner which the officials deemed cost her.

"Last time, she showed the potential for a Group race and was too far back,

but today she was closer to the pace and that made the difference," commented

His Highness The Aga Khan, who stretched his record to seven renewals. "We will

see if she stays in training and her next race could be back here in the

(October 27) Prix Royal-Oak."

Chalnetta's owner Benoit Chalmel added, "It is tough to take, but that is

racing and there is nothing we can do about it. She ran a great race and

deserved a Group 2 win, but she will not go to the (Arc) sales tonight."

Successful on his pattern-race debut in the Prix de Lutece September 8,

Valirann gritted out another success in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay to provide

his owner-breeder, The Aga Khan, with the outright record of six renewals.

Content to let the leaders go early as he settled the bay in sixth,

Christophe Soumillon inched closer at the top of the stretch and, after gaining

the lead passing the furlong marker, drove out the homebred to hold the Lutece

place-getters Montclair and Lucky Look in a tight finale.

"He is a tough horse and hasn't done anything wrong so far," The Aga Khan

commented. "He is improving with every run and is going to the Arc Sale at

Saint-Cloud tonight."

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