Vive Le "Fighting" Cirrus!
"Fighting" Cirrus Des Aigles suddenly appeared to cut down So You Think by ¾ lengths in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot.
©Photo David Hastings
The French went mad with joy. Their own precious Persian Punch, Cirrus Des Aigles, came off the pace to cut down the big Australian noise, So You Think, in the £1,300,000 QIPCO Champion Stakes (Group 1), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m) for 3yo+ on good Turf at Ascot.
Ransom Note (Red Ransom USA) under front-running Michael Hills and the overly-keen, hard-pulling Nathaniel IRE (Galileo IRE) contested the front with So You Think NZ (High Chaparral IRE), Cirrus Des Aigles FR (Even Top IRE) and Snow Fairy IRE (Intikhab USA) beautifully placed just off the pace.
At just the right moment, Ryan Moore moved So You Think out to take the lead in what appeared to be a sure victory.
The crowd was stunned when an unfamiliar gelding swung out to cut down the leader by ¾ lengths and the badly-hampered Snow Fairy was finally able to take third a ½ length behind SYT.
Had she been able to escape the rail earlier, she might have been the winner.
Christophe Soumillon on Cirrus made sure she wasn't.
The mare Midday (Oasis Dream) was another 2 lengths behind Snow Fairy with Nathaniel in fifth.
Whatever disappointment the losers' connections felt, it was nothing compared to Soumillon's after the Stewards' decision to ban him for striking Cirrus six times with the whip in the final furlong (limit is seven) and stripping him of his £50,000+ earnings on the winner's payout of $579,280.
[A jockeys' strike over the British Horseracing Authority's changes to whip Rules was postponed for special meetings and hearings with the BHA on Monday. Specific appeal hearings will take place the following week after a review of possible premature implementation of the new Rules.]
Popular French trainer Corinne Barande-Barbe was effusive with praise for her beloved "Fighting" Cirrus, who unfortunately lost the Prix Dollar Arc weekend, for winning his first Group 1 race at five.
Twenty-five Group 1 victories were held by the horses he defeated.
"It is a marvelous moment. One wishes the day would never end. Cirrus has realised the dream that I have always had for him.
This improving horse should have contested the Arc, but geldings cannot.
A pity this loveable horse is a gelding and sad that his victory should be shrouded in controversy.
As to the sanction on Soumillon, Barande-Barbe said "Cette sanction est inadmissible."
Soumillon called it a scandal and an embarrassment to British racing.
It is as stupid as the Dar Re Mi controversy was in France when the unrelenting Stewards would not bend to reason.
Hopefully, the British can accept their mistakes and correct the damage of starting Rules changes in the height of a season.
Too many jockeys and connections are involved for the authorities not to reconsider.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 10/18/2011 9:10 PM 
Categories: British Champions Day
Tags: Cirrus Des Aigles QIPCO British Champions Day QIPCO Champion Stakes So You Think Snow Fairy Christophe Soumillon Midday Nathaniel Corinne Barande Barbe Prix Dollar Arc de Triomphe Dar Re Mi British Horseracing Authority Ransom Note Whit Rules
Categories: British Champions Day
Tags: Cirrus Des Aigles QIPCO British Champions Day QIPCO Champion Stakes So You Think Snow Fairy Christophe Soumillon Midday Nathaniel Corinne Barande Barbe Prix Dollar Arc de Triomphe Dar Re Mi British Horseracing Authority Ransom Note Whit Rules
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