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Cirrus Des Aigles threatened by rising star Free Eagle at Ascot

17/10/2014

The freaky gelding Cirrus Des Aigles has an extraordinary record in Ascot's Champion Stakes but this evergreen eight-year-old is threatened by a three-year-old who hardly anyone had heard of six weeks ago.

The G1 Champion Stakes (2000m) is the centrepiece of Britain's richest racecard, with five of Saturday's super events being simulcast to Hong Kong.

French star Cirrus Des Aigles was already close to the top of the European tree when he won this huge prize back in 2011, but it was to be his first G1 triumph. Many top notch wins have followed, though in 2012 and 2013 he finished second in this great clash.

And the racing chatter and the betting suggests that the one who could thwart him this year is Free Eagle, having just the fourth race of his life compared to Cirrus Des Aigles who will be on his 60th racing mission.

Free Eagle is trained by Irish ace Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen who is on the verge of becoming Irish champion jockey for the seventh time, and who has ridden a remarkable 14 European Group winners for Weld this season.

Free Eagle's history is simple. He easily won his maiden last season, then got beaten 6 lengths by the now-retired star Australia in a G3 at Leopardstown. Having suffered a stress fracture of the tibia in the spring, he didn't reappear until September 2014 at Leopardstown gaining a stunning seven-length G3 victory.

Smullen says: "I got so excited after Free Eagle won his maiden that I said too much and when he then got well beaten by Australia I looked a fool. It was very out of character for me but when Free Eagle quickens he lowers himself into a great stride and it's an extraordinary feeling."

The 37-year-old champion rider - who insists that he still feels 21 – continues: "Of course Australia was exceptional but I don't think my horse was at his best when they met last year. We'll arrive at Ascot a fresh horse, and I go into Saturday full of confidence."

Soft ground is an unknown for Free Eagle and those conditions - or perhaps even heavy - are certain for Ascot's big day.

But soft ground will undoubtedly suit Viztoria, another of Smullen's mounts and contesting the G2 British Champions Sprint over 1200m.

Viztoria finished third behind Slade Power - also trained by sprint expert Edward Lynam - in this dash last year and prepped superbly for Saturday's target with a fluent victory in Ireland last Sunday.

Smullen says:  "The ease in the ground made all the difference to her last Sunday. In fact she felt every bit as good as when I rode her into third in this race last year."

In the G1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (2400m), Seal Of Approval is out to repeat her surprise victory in this G1 last year. She too thrives on demanding ground and trainer James Fanshawe says: "I've not just had one eye on this race all season, I've had both eyes on it and she's going to love the conditions."

Night Of Thunder and Charm Spirit are likely to rule the betting in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m) but Integral, Custom Cut and Top Notch Tonto each make plenty of appeal with their proven aptitude for the surface.

The meeting concludes with the Balmoral Handicap, a new and hugely valuable handicap over 1600m. Well touted candidates include Chatez, Levitate and Heaven's Guest, with the latter pair both having gained five of their six career wins on easy ground.

 

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