3 minute read

Ice Breeze denied Vazirabad a third victory in the Prix Royal-Oak at Saint Cloud.

Everything appeared to be going to plan for Alain de Royer-Dupre's star stayer, as Christophe Soumillon adopted his usual patient tactics.

The early pace to the race was injected by Archie Watson's Brandon Castle but he has been doing his winning at a much lower level and with half a mile to run his race was over.

Holdthasigreen and Ice Breeze were then sent on and it was Pascal Bary's Ice Breeze, under Vincent Cheminaud, who asserted.

Vazirabad was not making ground on Ice Breeze in the effortless fashion with which he is known and Soumillon had to get very serious with his mount.

He almost drew level in the final furlong but with 50 yards to run Ice Breeze, in receipt of a healthy 8lb age allowance, was pulling away again.

Andrew Balding's Montaly and the Willie Mullins-trained Renneti never featured.