Cirrus comeback encourages Corine

Cirrus des Aigles winning on QIPCO British Champions Day in 2011. Image copyright of Racingfotos.com.

QIPCO British Champions Series trainer Corine Barande-Barbe was delighted with Cirrus Des Aigles’ comeback at Chantilly earlier this week.

The eight-year-old is now likely to follow the same path as when successful in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan two years ago, before ultimately being targeted to regain his QIPCO Champion Stakes title later in 2014.

Cirrus Des Aigles was beaten one and a quarter lengths on the Chantilly Polytrack, but his trainer was satisfied with his reappearance

"I was very happy with him. He always needs his first run," Barande-Barbe told At The Races.

"He just didn’t take a breath when Christophe (Soumillon, jockey) wanted him to and that affected his rhythm, but he still wasn’t beaten far.

"I’m thinking of the Sheema Classic again rather than the World Cup. It’s not precise as they reserve the right to change things over there, but if I had my way that is the race for him.

"I’d prefer to run him on grass in a Group One as he’s eight now and he’s clever enough to know not to hurt himself. He’s better on turf and he’s won the Sheema Classic before.

"I knew he would lack a little in fitness, but Christophe found him better in that race than he was two years ago and on paper he has run a better race. Even if the result wasn’t perfect he wasn’t beaten far.

"He’s still as good as he was, the girl who rides him in a morning has to have very strong arms still.

"He will leave on the 21st (March) for his race on the 29th."