Solow wins the Prix d'Ispahan as Cirrus des Aigles disappoints
Sunday 24 May 2015 17:31, UK
Solow is set to grace Royal Ascot next month after coming out well on top of Cirrus Des Aigles in a clash of superstar geldings in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.
The Freddy Head-trained Dubai Turf winner Solow travelled in third as Gailo Chop took the runners along in the four-runner event, with Cirrus Des Aigles tracking him.
As the race got serious at the top of the home straight, Gailo Chop still held the upper hand two furlongs out but Maxime Guyon always cut a confident figure on Solow and smoothly picked up the leader at the furlong pole.
Cirrus Des Aigles could never find a change of gear and was last of the four. Not given a hard time by Christophe Soumillon when his chance had gone, it subsequently emerged he had broken his off-hind shoe during the contest.
The next target for Solow is the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, for which the grey was cut from 2/1 to 7/4 by bookmakers Sky Bet.
"I'm delighted with him. He won very well and I believe he is a champion - he is something special, for sure," said the successful trainer.
"He was very impressive today and the plan is to go to Ascot for the Queen Anne.
"I think the stiff mile at Ascot will be fine for him and any ground is okay - it was on the fast side today."
It was a memorable afternoon in Paris for Head as he also claimed the other Group One prize of the afternoon, the Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary, with Queen's Jewel.
The daughter of Pivotal, who races in the same Wertheimer silks as Solow, stretched her unbeaten record to three with a fine late burst which saw her have the race in safe keeping from soon after the furlong-pole and is now set for a tilt at Classic glory.
Head said: "I was very happy with the filly. She is still a little bit babyish but she is improving all the time and I think she will be a nice filly for later in the year.
"The plan is to go for the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and after that we will see.
"The Prix Saint-Alary was won in a record time by almost two seconds, which shows the ground is quite firm."
The Marco Botti-trained Tac De Boistron was a non-runner in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier and victory went to Bathyrhon.
