FREDDY Head was back in the winner’s circle to greet his third winner of the Prix d’Ispahan (Goldikova 2010/11) which he won on four occasions as a jockey.

Maxime Guyon had few qualms on board Solow during the extended nine furlongs. Just four horses finally turned out for race which was always going to be dominated by three geldings.

Julien Auge on Gailo Chop took the initiative early on followed by Cirrus Des Aigles and Solow who moved up to make a challenge to the long-time leader halfway up the straight. He led inside the final furlong and just had to be pushed out to the line to land a very comfortable victory by a length and a half.

The mare Sparkling Beam ran on the take third place and Christophe Soumillon was not hard on Cirrus Des Aigles once he realised the horse was not enjoying himself.

A son of Singspiel, Solow was winning his eighth race since being gelded and back to back victories in Group 1 races. Guyon reported: “I knew I had gas throughout the race. He goes on any but adores good ground and I never touched him with my whip. I’m looking forward to taking on Able Friend at Ascot!”

Head added: “We’re off to Royal Ascot now for the Queen Anne Stakes. It was longer today but I prefer him more over a mile and the one at Ascot is demanding. He had a very easy race today which is good for his moral. This horse can keep up the momentum throughout a mile and still accelerate at the end. He’s something rather special, now much easier to train and acts on all sorts of ground.”

The performance of Gailo Chop also merits a few words. Racing for the first time since last August, his seasonal debut was delayed by some little issues.

“If he comes out of the race well, we must consider the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot,” commented Antoine de Watrigant who added: “He ran as we had hoped after a break of nine months. He has certainly improved and ran on again after taking a breather in the straight.”

Cirrus Des Aigles was found to have broken half of a stick-on shoe (near fore) and probably at nine years old, likes to look after himself. Corine Barande-Barbe said last Tuesday from her Chantilly stable: “He hasn’t hurt himself and that’s the most important thing. He’s recovered well, went for a walk in the forest this morning and is playing the fool. We’ve replaced the shoe so he’s now well balanced again. Epsom is virtually out as he might remember last year (lame after race), there is also Ascot but the most probable target is the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”

If all goes to plan he will again meet Treve who Cirrus Des Aigles beat in last year’s Prix Ganay.