VAZIRABAD was given a quote of 12/1 by Paddy Power for next June’s Ascot Gold Cup a few minutes after the gelding had captured the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud last Sunday in convincing style.

The son of Manduro was winning his fifth race on the trot and his first at a left-handed track. Vazirabad was also giving Christophe Soumillon his first success in the Royal-Oak and the 34-year-old Belgian gave his mount a highly professional ride.