Look Who's Back

Surprising all when ending the unbeaten record of Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in Longchamp's G1 Prix Ganay 12 months ago, Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) stages his comeback for the race on Sunday as the seemingly endless saga continues. Last seen finishing fourth in the Dec. 14 G1 Hong Kong Cup over 10 furlongs at Sha Tin, the 9-year-old must be losing some of his old luster, but he has become a law unto himself since arriving center stage when taking the inaugural running of the G1 Champion S. at Ascot in October 2011. Facing France's most popular equine celebrity, who was also successful in this in April 2012, is another veteran who has shown remarkable consistency. Having taken several months to bloom back on the track after his unsuccessful spell at stud, Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi Ire}) regained his old verve when second in the latest edition of the Champion S. as Cirrus des Aigles trailed in fifth. John Deer's triple Group 1-winning 7-year-old showed his class when annexing the 10-furlong G2 Prix d'Harcourt here despite reportedly being short of peak fitness Apr. 6. “He did very well to win first time out, as I thought he'd need the run and the ground was soft enough for him,” trainer Roger Charlton told PA Sport. “It will be soft again, too. He showed all his old enthusiasm and ended up winning very nicely. That race is the natural trial for the Ganay and I would hope he improves for the run; I would expect him to actually, and he will even come on again for this, not fitness-wise but just because he is a horse who takes his racing very well.” Freddy Head is looking to George Strawbridge's 4-year-old filly We Are (Ire)(Dansili {GB}) to upset the old brigade and it is intriguing that last year's G1 Prix d l'Opera heroine has been kept in training. “She seems in very good form,” her trainer told PA Sport. “It's great that Mr Strawbridge likes to keep his older mares in training; in America it is common for them to race on at four and five and that is how he likes it.” 

Head recalled his charge's unfortunate luck last season: “She was very unlucky last year,” he said. “She had the problem with her ovaries and it meant she missed three or four months right in the middle of the season. After that it was amazing that she could come back and win a Group 1. I'd like to take her to Royal Ascot for the [G1] Prince of Wales's S. and then we'll see.”