Cirrus shines as Glory vanquished
In what was billed as a clash between the alleged big two, the Richard Hannon-trained Olympic Glory could finish only fourth under Frankie Dettori.
Cirrus Des Aigles had defeated Arc winner Treve on his last start, but this time made virtually every yard of the running in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.
The Corine Barande-Barbe-trained eight-year-old was pressed by the revitalised Anodin, but Soumillon had far too much class beneath him and eased home inside the final 100 yards.
Pollyana finished third, while Olympic Glory was hard at work a couple of furlongs from home on his first try over nine furlongs and folded meekly late on.
Cirrus Des Aigles will now head to England for either the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom or the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Barande-Barbe said: “I get up in the night to check that I’m not dreaming.
“This was like a prep run for him.
“He got his fifth Group One and should now go to England.
“That will be either in 13 days’ time at Epsom or on June 15 at Ascot.”
Soumillon said: “I let him gallop the way he wanted to.
“He needs to feel that he dominates his opponents.
“He is a phenomenal horse who can go over so many different trips.
“He even goes in heavy ground over the mile.”
Ger Lyons will take Obliterator to Royal Ascot after regretting his decision to run the colt in Saturday’s Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
It was largely a positive day for the trainer, with two-year-old Cappella Sansevero extending his unbeaten record to three in the Listed Marble Hill Stakes.
But the promising Obliterator finished a tailed-off last behind Kingman in the main event.
“The only thing that spoiled the good feeling was my decision to run Obliterator even though every bone in my body said not to,” Lyons wrote on his Facebook page.
“The reason I did was that he’d never ran on soft and most Oratorio’s handle an ease and as it was our local Classic I felt it worth a shot.
“We now know for sure and it’s on to Royal Ascot for the Group Three over 10 furlongs (used to be Hampton Court), ground permitting.”
Bound the same way will be the juvenile and Lyons said: “Capella Sansevero is a very smart colt and the ultimate professional, he has licked his pot and is already readying himself for Royal Ascot.
“My gut feeling is the Norfolk but the Coventry is still an option. Much debate is to be had in the coming weeks.”
