Corine Barande-Barbe will gear the rest of Cirrus Des Aigles’ campaign around another crack at the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.
The Chantilly-based trainer believes the best has not yet been seen of the seven-year-old this season, who was having only his second run of the campaign when fourth behind Novellist in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.
“I am not too disappointed because the going was very fast as Ascot racecourse was waiting for big rain and it never came,” Barande-Barbe said.
“It was quite fast, which is not the easiest ground for Cirrus. The race was quick too. They broke the course record by two seconds and it was a bit hard for his second race back. He still needed it.
“He did well to get fourth place and will improve on that race, but the winner (Novellist) is a tremendous horse and the two three-year-olds in front of Cirrus (Trading Leather and Hillstar) were getting 12lb, are very good horses and improving.
“I think if he had two or more races he would have been nearer, but we don’t regret it at all. He ran a good race and came back well. Everything is OK with him this morning.
“We have York (for the Juddmonte International) in our minds and as we plan to go back to England for the Champion Stakes I might look for an easy race to complete his preparation.”
Cirrus Des Aigles won the 2011 Champion Stakes (2000m) in 2011 and ran the mighty Frankel to a length and three-quarters when second last year.
He was the second highest rated horse in the world in 2012. behind Frankel.
