French raider denies So You Think French raider Cirrus Des Aigles under Christophe Soumillon outbattled the Aidan O'Brien trained So You Think victory in the feature race at Ascot this afternoon, the Group 1, Qipco Champion Stakes. However the victory proved a hollow one for Soumillon who fell foul of the new whip regulations, and was hit with a five day ban and lost his share of the prizemoney which amounted to around £50,000. So You Think was sent off the 7/4 favourite under Ryan Moore and was sat in the perfect position behind Ransom Note and Nathaniel until the top of the home straight. Still travelling well, he was asked to press on by Ryan Moore but the eventual winner had him in his sights and shadowed him until the furlong pole. It was there that Christophe Soumillon drew his mount level and although So You Think kept on gamely, it was the 12/1 Gallic raider who found more and went on to score by three parts of a length. Snow Fairy (8-1) ran her usual excellent race and finished with a rattle to claim third. The winner set a new course record for 10 furlongs. Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said afterwards: "This means a lot because I always thought he was very good. "I wasn't nervous because I went to see him before the race and he put me at ease. I trust him. For me he's been sent from another world to help all of us. "To win a Group One against the best horses in England is fantastic. "I knew he could do it and now he's done it. "He has run a lot but keeps improving, and has just run the best race of his life. As long as he keeps enjoying it we will keep going. He's a gelding, but I'm not a commercial trainer and for me sport is racing. "Last year we went to Japan and Hong Kong. He's had quite a hard season so probably we will just go to Hong Kong. "This is the best day I've had in racing. Thank you to all the British people who have welcomed us." Soumillon said: "I'm really amazed, today is a great day for French racing. "I'm really happy because he's a French mascot but had never run a Group One in France before despite winning a lot of good French races. "Even at the Arc meeting he was only just beaten by Byword who won a good race here (Prince of Wales's Stakes). "He's a champion and I'm really happy to see him do that today. "I thought Ryan (Moore) was going to win when he hit the front but my horse came back well. It's something special, a great day."
