Barande-Barbe confident Cirrus des Aigles will be back to his best for Champions Day

Cirrus des Aigles lands the QIPCO Champion Stakes in 2011 – can he return to his brilliant best to regain his crown in October?

Corine Barande-Barbe has ensured that her stable star Cirrus des Aigles will be back to his brilliant best come QIPCO Champions Day on October 19th.

The seven-year-old was defeated again this season in a Group 3 contest at Deauville when receiving weight from the winner Petit Chevalier.

Following Frankel’s retirement, Cirrus des Aigles took over as the world’s highest-rated racehorse heading into the new campaign, but things have so far not gone to script.

He was beaten into fifth by German star Novellist on his belated return in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and was unable to turn the tables on the same rival in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, finishing a well-beaten fourth.

However, Barande-Barbe is not concerned by his performances thus far and expects Cirrus des Aigles to return to the top of his game for Champions Day. 

She said: "Everything is OK this morning. He has a small cut behind, probably from another horse, but is not serious.

"I was more disappointed by the result than the performance. There was not much pace in the race and maybe he should have started his run a bit sooner, but is not a drama that he was beaten.

"The winner was very brave and although the ground was fast, I was much happier with my horse’s action at the finish than I was at Ascot.

"I think he is still on his way up and I think he will be back at the top (of his game) for the Champion Stakes – that has always been his main target this year."