Cirrus Des Aigles has continued his worrying decline with yet another defeat at Deauville.
Corine Barande-Barbe’s gelding went off the 2-1 favourite for the Grand Prix de Deauville, having picked up the Group Two event a couple of years ago en route to his Champion Stakes success, but he has now been beaten four times this season and weakened into fifth behind Tres Blue (11-1).
Christophe Soumillon had Cirrus Des Aigles, the highest-rated horse in the world after Frankel’s retirement last year, handy on the home turn but he quickly dropped away.
The winner, ridden by Fabrice Veron, had been second in the German Derby and won a Group Three over the course and distance earlier in the month.
Tres Blue poked his head in front on the line ahead of Penglai Pavilion and the front-running Slow Pace.
The winner’s trainer, Alex Pantall, will now aim him at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“I suppose I am a little disappointed,” trainer Barande-Barbe said.
“Christophe said he kept a little for himself.
“When two or three others got to him he slightly held back. His condition is obviously still coming along but Christophe was surprised, on slightly softer ground than he’s had, how hard he was blowing.”
