ALAIN de Royer-Dupré did not have to wait long for a visit to the winner’s circle as he greeted One Foot In Heaven after the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. This colt is fast becoming a horse of the same class as his dam Pride, who had a remarkable career in the hands of the same trainer.

Christophe Soumillon had a bit of a restraining job early on and waiting tactics where employed until two furlongs out. Then the son of Fastnet Rock was given his head and he quickened past his rivals and finally won with plenty still left in the tank. One Foot In Heaven had three-quarters of a length to spare over the game Garlingari (gave 5lb) with Harlem close up third. The Roger Charlton-trained Ayrad faded in the closing stages to finish sixth.

The winner was completing a hat-trick and has won a listed race, a Group 3 and now a Group 2 so Royer-Dupre must now aim even higher. “We decided before this race that he would have a rest until the autumn when we will think about the Arc, Champion Stakes and Hong Kong. We still don’t know his limits. He has inherited the acceleration of his dam and can quicken in a few strides.”

Pride blossomed at six when she reeled-off the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Champion Stakes and Hong Kong Cup and was runner-up to Rail Link in the Arc de Triomphe.

Corine Barande-Barbe’s Cirrus Des Aigles-replacement Garlingari is consistent. His trainer said: “We thought of giving him a break after the Prix Ganay but he was full of beans at home. We were beaten by a very good horse and the distance was a little at the end of the world for him.”