Prince crowned at Longchamp

Italian raider Prince Kirk was a surprise winner of the Group One Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp.

Trainer Emilio Borromeo was registering his first success at the highest level in France as his four-year-old saw off Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Six Perfections, who was making her seasonal bow.

Mick Channon’s Checkit set a good gallop in the nine-furlong feature chased by the free-running Nebraska Tornado with the Luca Cumani-trained Sunstrach in third, ahead of Prince Kirk with Six Perfections held up last of the five runners.

Six Perfections made rapid headway to take the lead with over a furlong to go but was immediately pressed by Prince Kirk and Maro Monteriso, who despite colliding with the rail, found a good burst of speed to collar the filly close home.

Checkit kept on for third with Sunstrach back in fourth.

Connections of the winner are now contemplating a crack at the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 3 while plans for Six Perfections are unclear.

This race was Six Perfections’ first attempt at further than a mile, and Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos Family, said: “We were always worried about the distance. We’ll regroup and discuss plans.”