Cirrus Des Aigles chasing fourth victory in the Prix Dollar
Last Updated: 04/10/14 3:02pm
View from connections ahead of Saturday's feature action at Longchamp.
Corine Barande-Barbe is confident Cirrus Des Aigles will be fit enough to do himself justice as he shoots for a fourth success in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp.
The eight-year-old is the star attraction on the first day of Arc weekend as he tries to supplement his victories of 2010, 2012 and 2013 in the 10-furlong heat.
Cirrus Des Aigles will be having his first start since pulling up lame after winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom back in June and Barande-Barbe is seeking another good performance ahead of a planned return to Champions Day at Ascot.
The popular gelding has run in the Champion Stakes for the last three years, winning once and finishing second twice - including to Frankel - and connections are eager to maintain his presence.
Barande-Barbe told Racing UK: "He's very well and will be ready for the Dollar. He's enjoyed coming back into work and is showing a lot of good signs.
"He'll be ready. Two years ago he was stopped in June, came back for the Dollar and won.
"We'll run in the Dollar for the fifth time, then the Champion Stakes for the fourth time. We won that, then were second twice, now we have to win again. Then after that, we'll think about Hong Kong and then Dubai.
"We are very excited about getting Cirrus des Aigles back on a racecourse - I can't wait until Saturday. If all goes well then, he will head on to Ascot."
The presence of Cirrus Des Aigles appears to have discouraged a number of possible rivals with just seven going to post, with both Fractional and Pilote representing Andre Fabre.
Freddy Head is keen on the chances of Solow as he takes the next step up the ladder in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.
He has won four of his five starts, with his only defeat coming when stepped up to just shy of two miles at Longchamp back in May.
Solow has since made a successful switch back to a mile when winning a Deauville Group Three and he stays at that trip for this Group Two heat.
Head said: "He's bred to stay, but he's got loads of speed. He's a top-class horse."
Richard Hannon's Baltic Knight features in the 14-strong field along with the likes of Group One-placed Kenhope and this year's French 1000 Guineas runner-up Veda.
Hannon told his official website: "I suggested to James Stafford (boss of owners Thurloe Thoroughbreds) some time ago that this might be a suitable race for him. He won well at Haydock last time and will enjoy the easier ground."
La Hoguette takes her chance having chased home the smart Charm Spirit when third in the Prix Jean Prat on her most recent outing.
She was actually fourth past the post that day but Yuften, who finished second, impeded her in the closing stages and was duly placed behind the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained filly.
Her owner Gerard Augustin-Normand is facing a big weekend as the part-owner of Avenir Certain and Ectot, leading contenders for the Arc.
His racing manager Sylvain Vidal said: "She's a very nice filly and ran a good race last time. We're looking forward to it."
Augustin-Normand's colours will be sported by Auvray in the Prix Chaudenay, with Vidal's wife Elisabeth a part-owner and breeder of the colt.
The stayers' event has drawn nine runners including Hughie Morrison's Melrose winner Vent De Force.
A total of 12 are declared for the Prix de Royallieu with the John Murphy-trained Euphrasia representing Irish interests after opting not to tackle Sunday's Prix de l'Opera.