Almanzor brilliant in Group 1 Champion Stakes

Almanzor
Almanzor wins the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot over Arc winner Found

ALMANZOR showed why it’s highly rated when winning the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot overnight, taking its winning streak to five.

The French Derby winner was the $2.40 favourite at Sportsbet and it never looked like getting beaten as the three-year-old unleashed a massive turn-of-foot in the straight.

Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe winner Found also launched late down the outside, but it came up two lengths short and winning jockey Christophe Soumillon believes it will only continue to evolve.

“He is an amazing horse,” Soumillon said. “Everything you do with him looks easy, it just shows you how good he is. I never thought at the beginning of the season he would be that strong the whole year. He is getting smarter and smarter.”

Not everything went to plan early for the champion son of Wootton Bassett as it was stuck on the inside of runners from barrier one, but Soumillon was able to get clear running when it mattered.

“A few horses were going left and right in the beginning, I was trying to get a good position but unfortunately I had to go on the inside. When I came on the outside with The Grey Gatsby I knew he was going to give me something,” Soumillon said.

“I came a bit early for him and I knew Found was there and how strong she is, so I was giving him a chance to finish well and the last 100 yards he kept going.”

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Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget indicated a run in the Arc, which was won by Found in 2016, could be on the cards next season.

“He’s a champion, he did the same performance as in Leopardstown,” Rouget said. “He had the time, five weeks between the two races which was perfect.

“He beat Found a little further today because I think she felt the Arc in her legs, just 13 days ago, but still she’s a champion, too. With him, Found, Minding – it really is Champions Day.

“I wanted to keep him at this distance, we keep him next year and we’ll see if he goes to the Arc then. He’ll have a good rest in the winter and we’ll see where we go in the spring.”

Found was beaten but not disgraced and champion trainer Aidan O’Brien was happy with its performance just two weeks after winning the Arc.

“She only ran in the Arc two weeks ago,” O’Brien said. “She’s a great mare and she still kept coming with her head down. Ryan (Moore, jockey) have her a great ride as she was drawn out wide which is a difficult enough place.

“She looked great and was well in herself. I’m not sure about the Breeders’ Cup, the lads will have to talk about that.”

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