Three-Peat On For Vazirabad

[Wandering Eyes]

ParisLongchamp’s G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier on Sunday has attracted anyone who is anyone on the stayers’ scene in France, with Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) not short on elite company as he bids for a third consecutive renewal of this prize which he has previously garnered at Chantilly. His Highness The Aga Khan’s leading stayer showed that he remains at an elevated level when annexing the G2 Dubai Gold Cup over two miles at Meydan on World Cup day and despite a four-pound penalty he looks the standard-bearer. He was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Ice Breeze (GB) (Nayef) when attempting a third consecutive success in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud in October, with Holdthasigreen (Fr) (Hold That Tiger) two lengths back in third, but the Juddmonte winner had eight pounds weight-for-age in his favour on that occasion and now he has to mix it with Vazirabad on a level. Ice Breeze was third on his return behind Funny Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) and Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Barbeville Apr. 29 and the latter is open to progression in this sphere having proved effective at a decent level over middle distances last term, most notably when runner-up in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville in August.

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