Cirrus returns to the number one Cirrus Des Aigles returned to the winner's enclosure with victory in the La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte. Sent swiftly to the front by Christophe Soumillon, the Corine Barande-Barbe-trained gelding set just a steady pace through the early stages before being asked a few questions by Smoking Sun. The pair went head-to-head from a furlong and a half out but Soumillon's mount asserted in the closing stages to win a shade cosily from Valley Jem with Smoking Sun eventually third. Now a seven-year-old, Cirrus Des Aigles was having his 50th career outing and was winning for the 17th time, three of those in Group One company. Paddy Power halved him in price to 7/1 for the Champion Stakes at Ascot, a race he won in 2011, but Sky Bet still offer 10/1 from 14s. Barande-Barbe was delighted to see her stable star return to winning form and is now planning another crack at the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend, a race he has previously won twice, before heading to Ascot for the QIPCO-sponsored Champion Stakes on October 19. "It was a very good performance, he ran very well and I'm very happy with him," she said. "It's nice to see him back winning again. "I think he will go for the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend and then on to Ascot for the Champion Stakes. "Beyond that, I don't know what we will do - he will tell us and we will see what happens."
