Barande-Barbe Offers Cirrus Update

Corine Barande-Barbe hopes to return to Ascot with Cirrus Des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) on Qipco Champions Day next year, regardless of whether the Berkshire track employs covers over the whole of the track before the showpiece fixture. 

The meeting’s spot in mid-October leaves it open to very soft ground, as was the case this year, although high-profile omissions such as Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) were down to other factors, after injury and a setback, respectively. 

Cirrus Des Aigles has been a regular since the inception of Champions Day, winning the G1 Champion S. in 2011 and finishing second the following year to Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and in 2013 behind Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). 
Last month the gelding was fifth to Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) on ground officially described as heavy. 

Trials of covers are reportedly to begin in April, and Barande-Barbe said: “I would like to think that he could go back to Ascot next year, but we will see. He will tell me in the spring if he wants to do it. 

“I don’t mind [the use of covers]. I think maybe it is better for horses to run in natural conditions, but either way, the ground will not be any faster than it was at Epsom in June [when Cirrus Des Aigles won the G1 Coronation Cup], so I don’t see it being a problem.” 

Now an 8-year-old, Cirrus Des Aigles picked up an injury in winning the Coronation Cup and was off the track until his return in the G2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp prior to his Ascot run, finishing first past the post but disqualified for interference. 

Barande-Barbe plans to head to Hong Kong with her stable star next month. 

“Everything is good. There is no problem. He is very, very well,” she said. “The plan is to go to Hong Kong for the [G1 Hong Kong] Cup. He was third in the race last year and I hope we can win this time.” 

Barande-Barbe continued, “I think this year, the Champion S. came a bit quick. Before he went to Longchamp, he had been stopped since June because of the injury, so it is not the same as previous years. 

“I think maybe if there had been another week between the Prix Dollar and Ascot it would have been better… Since he came back from Ascot he has just been getting better and better at home.”