Cirrus on course for Coronation run
Cirrus Des Aigles has been confirmed an intended runner in the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom on Saturday.
The eight-year-old clinched his fifth Group One victory with a dominant front-running display in the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp just over a week ago and trainer Corine Barande-Barbe was keen to assess her stable star’s well being before committing to a trip to Epsom.
She has been delighted with how her pride and joy has recovered from his Longchamp exertions and is excited about the prospect of seeing him run on Derby day on the Downs.
Barande-Barbe said: “He will run in the Coronation Cup and we are very much looking forward to going to Epsom.
“He has been in very good form since his last run – everything has been perfect.
“We wouldn’t want the ground to be like a road, but there is a bit of rain forecast and I think it should be fine. It certainly won’t be faster ground than in Dubai.”
Cirrus Des Aigles’ intended participation at Epsom means a trip to Royal Ascot later this month has been ruled out, but he could return to the Berkshire track for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on July 26.
“It has been the plan all year to go for the Coronation Cup, then the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and then hopefully to Ascot for the King George,” said Barande-Barbe.
“We decided to run in the Prix d’Ispahan because it was a small field, the going was perfect for him and it was very near to home.
“If we ran at Royal Ascot, we couldn’t run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. We made the plan at the start of the year and we are sticking to it.”
