King George plan for Cirrus
Corine Barande-Barbe has confirmed her stable star Cirrus Des Aigles is heading to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot .
Last Updated: 06/06/12 1:43pm
Corine Barande-Barbe has confirmed her stable star Cirrus Des Aigles is heading to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Betfair) at Ascot .
The six-year-old is a course winner having landed last year's Champion Stakes and he has enjoyed a fine start to 2012, winning the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Prix Ganay.
"We plan to run Cirrus Des Aigles in the King George and he will either run in the Prince of Wales's Stakes or the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud beforehand," said Barande-Barbe.
"I want to see what is entered in both races before making a decision, but there will be good horses in both races.
"He has been in very good form since the Prix d'Ispahan. I wasn't disappointed he got beaten at Longchamp (over nine furlongs) because we had to make the running. In hindsight, we probably should have gone a faster pace because Golden Lilac was having her first start of the year and we know Cirrus Des Aigles has more stamina than her.
"It's hard because there is no pace in French racing and the horse had run over 12 furlongs in Dubai and then 10 and a half in the Prix Ganay after that, so how the race panned out was not in his favour.
"The key to him is a fast pace, which makes him perform better, but he doesn't get that in France. He turned six on May 8, but he still appears to be improving and growing, so hopefully he will race for another couple of years.
"He is also in the Irish Champion Stakes and Qipco Champion Stakes, so he can attempt the double."