JOINT champion jockey Christophe Soumillon rode two perfect races at Saint-Cloud last Sunday where he landed both group races.

The first leg came on Loving Things in the Group 3 Prix de Flore for Luca Cumani and then he won another Prix Royal-Oak with Vazirabad. The 35-year-old Belgian is still at the top of his game but not trying for a ninth title in his profession as he is currently over 100 winners adrift of Pierre-Charles Boudot with whom he shared the honours in 2015.

Having the steering apparatus rearranged in his mouth, Vazirabad kept as straight as a dye on this occasion. Restrained early on, he loomed up in the centre of the track two furlongs out and was in charge before the final 200 metres.

He went on to win with plenty in hand by just under two lengths from the English filly Endless Time, with last year’s runner-up, Siljan’s Saga, staying on to take third place and Mille Et Mille close up in fourth place.

The Irish raider Quick Jack, a 44/1 chance, was by no means disgraced in sixth position (beaten three lengths) but he returned home with no prize money to bank. Vazirabad is the fourth stayer to win the Royal-Oak in successive years.

The others were Amilynx (1999/2000), the Gold Cup winner Westerner (2003/04) and also Tac De Boistron (2013/14).

The gelded son of Manduro was winning the second Group 1 race of his career, a total he can increase further judging by this impressive victory.

Alain de Royer-Dupre was delighted with this improved performance of Vazirabad and disclosed: “After he hung at the end of the Prix du Cadran, we decided to give him a complete medical but nothing was found. We then realised that he was blocking his tongue over the top of the bit which made him difficult to steer. We adapted the mouthpiece and all is now perfect.”

Of the future, he added: “If I was asked for my advice, I would not be looking at the Ascot Gold Cup next year. It’s a very hard race and, being a gelding, we want Vazirabad to last a long time. It’s more probable that he’ll go back to Dubai but have a preparatory race before this time.”

Last year, the four-year-old took the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup when making his seasonal debut.

Racing over a mile and a half for the first time, Endless Time ran a corker. She had previously been runner-up in the Qatar Prix Vermeille. Well placed by William Buick from the start, she hit the front one and a half out and stuck to her guns but was finally no match for Vazirabad.

“She deserves to win a Group 1 race one day,” commented Buick, who added: “She ran another gallant race as she did at Chantilly in the Vermeille. I hope Endless Time stays in training next year.”

Siljan’s Saga has not won this season but has still picked up over €517,000 when premiums are taken into account. The daughter of Sagamix cost just €2,500 as a yearling and Jean-Pierre Gauvin said after the Royal-Oak: “Once again, she left her heart on the track. There’s nothing else to say except that her jockey (Pierre-Charles Boudot) feels she is better over 2,400 metres (mile and a half).

“She will spend the winter in her stable and then the owners will decide on her future.”