Farhh conquers all in the QIPCO Champion Stakes

Farhh holds off Cirrus des Aigles and Ruler of The World in the QIPCO Champion Stakes. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The fragile but hugely talented Farhh has always won after a break and he did so again today to take the biggest prize of his career, the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes, Europe’s richest mile and a quarter race.

Always prominent, he struck for home over a furlong from home and held off the challenges of Cirrus des Aigles and Ruler of The World by a neck and half a length, with a six length gap back to the fourth horse, the winner’s stable companion, Hunter’s Light.

It was a thrilling contest, with Cirrus des Aigles and Ruler of The World both travelling powerfully into the straight, but Farhh had all the answers.

Some had thought he might not be at his best with this trip after his hugely impressive mile successes, such as this year’s JLT Lockinge Stakes, but he proved himself a world-beater this afternoon.

It was a sensational training performance by Saeed bin Suroor and the Godolphin team as the horse was injured after his JLT Lockinge triumph so had not run since May.

It was the last race of his career as the colt has now been retired to stud.

"My horse travelled like a dream and felt like the winner throughout the race," said de Sousa.

"I was concerned that he would get in front a bit too soon on that heavy ground but he is a marvellous horse. It was some performance from him.

"I knew that the French horse would travel behind me but the way that my horse travelled, something really good would have to beat me.

"I didn’t ask him for his effort until about two furlongs out as he was travelling so well and, for me, most of his best form has been over a mile so I wanted him to see the race out.

"He has been very well trained by Saeed (bin Suroor) as he’s had plenty of problems this season but we know he goes well fresh.

"For a boy from Brazil, it is a dream come true to ride winners like this.

"It’s not been the easiest season and there is pressure riding in these famous colours but the pressure lifts a little when horses like this come along.

"It’s a good problem to have though and I enjoy it. There will always be pressure in this job but it’s good I can enjoy this moment here and now."

Christophe Soumillon, who rode Cirrus Des Aigles for trainer Corine Barande-Barbe, said: "I had a good ride and when we turned into the straight I thought we were going to win.

"I knew Farhh was the horse to beat so I tried to follow him, but unfortunately when I got to him he found more.

"The trainer thought that if I had got going earlier it might have been better, but in the last 100 yards you could see the winner kept going quite easily."