The thing with Cirrus Des Aigles is he never lets the pressmen down. The French running machine is a bit like those collection automobiles, the ones that enthusiastic owners keep on fixing, oiling, driving; all smiles as the old classic competes with newer, more “perfect”, modern cars.
So last year after his 4th failed attempt to seize a prize at the LONGINES HKIR with a best ever third-place finish in the Cup behind local star Akeed Mofeed, Cirrus went back to France with plenty to look forward too. A trip to Meydan, a jaunt or two to Britain and obviously a sixth visit to Hong Kong were all on his agenda.
Yet almost nothing ended up the way it should have. For better and for worse. He came back with a disappointing fourth on the Chantilly all-weather surface, then ran a cracker over the Meydan Turf only to have the Japanese wonder mare Gentildonna defeat him in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. There was plenty left in the tank then! Yet, hardly anyone could have pictured him beating Arc-heroine Treve next time out.
That is what the old warrior did. Around Longchamp’s 2100m circuit in the Prix Ganay, the race chosen for the 2013 Arc winner’s triumphant return to action. One furlong out, everything seemed to be going as planned as Treve was on her way to overtake the brave gelding. “Battling Cirrus” is not easy prey though. He has been around. He also has his pride. With a devilish Soumillon on board, he fought back, disputed the lead, never gave an inch and finally prevailed. The little ugly duckling, once again, had beaten the Prince’s machine. David and Goliath, so to speak.
It would have been amazing to close on that, but it was only the start. Cirrus was invincible this year. As if galvanized by his victory over Treve, who would go through a rollercoaster of a season, Cirrus went on to win the G1 Prix d’Ispahan, again at Longchamp, then the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom, on firmer ground than he likes, beating his excellent French rival Flintshire, who on the contrary had his ground that day.
Yet, drama was just around the corner. As Soumillon dismounted Cirrus a few strides after they had passed the Epsom winning post, the horse was lame. He was found to be suffering a bone injury that would take some time to heal. Rest was the only option. Once again, the clever eight-year-old proved to be an excellent patient.
Corine Barande-Barbe had him finely tuned for his comeback, on Arc weekend for “his” Arc, the Prix Dollar, a G2 open to geldings, unlike the Longchamp showpiece, raced a day later. For the fourth time, Cirrus won, but he was disqualified after swerving under pressure, as he had led the race nobody wanted to lead. Only two weeks later, he was almost favourite in the Champion Stakes at Ascot, but he failed to deliver that day, finishing fifth. So what is the state of play now? How is the old warrior doing these days, as he prepares for the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup?
His trainer, the ever-confident Corine Barande-Barbe, gave the answer: “Cirrus came back very well from Ascot and it has been the plan to go to Hong Kong ever since. I am glad to be invited again and I look forward to this edition of the HKIR.
“At Ascot, in the Champions Stakes, I think he had not completely recovered from his comeback. We did not have enough time between the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend and the race at Ascot after such a long lay-off. His comeback was a bit messy, stressful to say the least. It wasn’t enough to get ready for Ascot but he surely is ready now.”
Cirrus Des Aigles had a lengthy spell on the side-lines in 2013 after being withdrawn on the eve of the 2012 LONGINES HKIR - what would have been his fourth race at Sha Tin - making this year his sixth visit but fifth race. He did not race again until the following June.
“You know, he’s already had a longer lay-off back in 2013 and it took him a long time to come back. Everybody thought he was done for good, back then! He’s won three Gr1s since. Honestly, I think that he’s never gone to Hong Kong in such good spirits and state of fitness. Everything has ideally fallen in its place.
“It is true that Cirrus has got an edge when there is some cut in the ground but we know we will not get such a surface in Hong Kong, a perfectly drained and maintained course. Anyway, the horse has done well on various courses now, as he’s proven at Epsom, and even early this year at Longchamp, when the ground wasn’t as soft as it would be in the Autumn. I really look forward to seeing him at his peak over there.”
So there we are. A better than ever Cirrus is on his way, deserving for sure that Lady Luck finally casts her spell on him in Hong Kong.
