Record–breaker Scorpion lifts Grand Prix

SCORPION set a new track record as he confirmed his Budweiser Irish Derby second was no fluke with an emphatic success in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp yesterday.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt had been an unconsidered 33-1 chance when chasing home Hurricane Run at the Curragh, but on the back of that run he was sent off the 6-4 favourite for the revamped French Group One.

And he did not let his supporters down on Bastille Day as he found plenty for pressure under Kieren Fallon to score readily from Desideratum. The son of Montjeu timed 2min 24.3sec to break the old mark over a mile and a half set by Peintre Celebre in the 1997 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.