LONGCHAMP SATURDAY

THE Aga Khan often starts the Arc weekend with success and he did again last Saturday with a Group 2 double in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay and half an hour later in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu.

His winner Vazirabad may well turn into another Cirrus Des Aigles judging by the progress he is making after every race. He took the Chaudenay in a canter in the hands of Christophe Soumillon. Switched off behind the leaders early on, the gelding made his presence felt two out and then drew away to win by three lengths from Tiberian and Pilansberg. The son of Manduro has improved out of all recognition since breaking his duck at Dieppe in mid-July. He went on to win at Deauville before landing the Group 3 Prix de Lutece a length and a quarter ahead of Big Blue, who was fourth in the Chaudenay and beaten by nearly five lengths.

The Aga Khan was winning the race for a record sixth time. Alain de Royer-Dupré commented: “We won’t go now for the Conseil de Paris. It comes too close and the ground could be testing but we could be looking at the stayers’ race in Dubai next March.”

ROYALLIEU

Candarliya’s victory in the Royallieu was even more impressive as she broke both the race and track record although there are not many races run over 12 1/2 furlongs. The daughter of Dalakhani was also paying a great compliment to Treve who beat her six lengths in the Prix Vermeille.

Held up early on, Soumillon extracted the filly to challenge early in the straight before taking charge at the furlong post. She went on to win by a length and a half from the supplementary entry Lady Of Kyushu and Scalambra.

The Irish filly Ballybacka Queen made a brave effort with Kevin Manning to go from pillar to post but they were outpaced from the furlong marker and finished seventh just behind the well-backed John Gosden runner, Martlet.

Candarliya has yet to be out of the first three in nine races and been first past the post in five events including the Group 3 Prix Minerve at Deauville. “She wasn’t as fresh today as she was in the Vermeille. The filly has had a long and hard season and will now have a long rest at stud before coming back into training probably late next year,” reported Royer-Dupré. “She will have many options between England and France and the Yorkshire Oaks will be one of them.”

It was a well-timed Group 2 victory as her sire Dalakhani will be standing in France next year at the owner’s Haras de Bonneval in Normandy.

CIRRUS FAVOURITE

Cirrus Des Aigles was just the favourite for the Dollar. He had won the race on three occasions and been first past the post four times. He was demoted 12 months ago when Fractional ended up as the winner.

This year Fractional ran into second place after being collared by Thierry Jarnet and Free Port Lux at the end of the 9 3/4 furlong contest. The winning distance was three-quarters of a length and the Ralph Beckett-trained Air Pilot was a close third in front of Elliptique and Cirrus Des Aigles. The well-backed French Navy was never a real factor in the straight.

Free Port Lux was winning for the first time since picking up the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange over 13 months ago.

Freddy Head said: “I am truly very happy as I love this colt. Today he had his ground and the perfect distance. He is such a consistent individual and goes through the Arc sale this evening.” Free Port Lux was finally bought in for €650,000 so he might remain in training at five.

Cirrus Des Aigles just did not pick up when asked for an effort in the straight. “He was giving 3kg to the others and was not suited by the firm ground over this distance,” commented Corine Barande-Barbe. She added: “He was fine after the race and his future will be determined by the ground. If it is testing at Ascot, he will go again for the Champion Stakes.”

IMPASSABLE DOES IT

Freshness can be an advantage at this time of the season and this was endorsed by the victory of Impassable in the Daniel Wildenstein. Olivier Peslier was at his best when riding the daughter of Invincible Spirit. He was patient early on in the mile Group 2 before taking control at the furlong pole.

At this point they tackled the long-time leader and Qipco 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (gave 1lb) before going on to win by half a length ahead of Akatea, Sonnerie and Johnny Barnes who failed to quicken in the straight.

Impassable had not been out since winning the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham at the end of May. Carlos Laffon-Parias was at Newmarket so it was the Wertheimer brothers’ racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau who greeted the filly after her second Group 2 success. He said: “Well done Carlos to have her so well for this outing. She could go for the Breeders’ Cup mile but nothing is definite for the moment and she will surely remain in training next year.”

Miss France has not won since her classic victory in the Qipco 1000 Guineas last year. She has been second in her last four races and has been entered in the Mile Championship at Kyoto on November 22nd.

Over 13,000 enthusiasts gathered in the sunshine at Longchamp last Saturday which was nearly 3,000 more than in 2014.