TUESDAY'S Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly was won in hugely impressive fashion by the Japanese-trained five-year-old A Shin Hikari.

The son of Deep Impact, winner of the Hong Kong Cup last December, now looks set to star in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

With usual partner Yutaka Take on board at Chantilly, A Shin Hikari raced in second place before quickening past Vadamos two furlongs out in the nine-furlong contest, run on soft ground.

Group 1 Prix Ganay winner Dariyan gave chase but at the line was still 10 lengths adrift of the winner who appeared to have more in the tank. In third came Silverwave, a place ahead of Vadamos. Among those well beaten were the Clive Cox-trained My Dream Boat, French star New Bay and David O'Meara's globetrotter Mondialiste.

The winner's trainer Masanori Sakaguchi told press that while Royal Ascot was on the cards he does not expect A Shin Hikari to have the stamina for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

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