As one Derby hero lights up Paris, another seeks greatness at Ascot

Hurricane Lane confirmed his status as one of Europe’s most exciting middle-distance horses with a scintillating win in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, setting up a huge 11 days for Godolphin’s Derby winners.

Despite a hard race in the G1 Irish Derby two and a half weeks earlier, Hurricane Lane produced a remarkable performance as he powered to a six-length success in the Bastille Day highlight at Longchamp.

A return to Paris for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe could be on the cards for the colt, although plans for later in the summer will revolve around Adayar, who makes his first appearance since his G1 Derby victory at Ascot this Saturday.

Adayar will be aiming to become the first three-year-old to capture both the Derby and the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes since his grandsire Galileo in 2001. Strong older opposition awaits in the mid-summer highlight, including established stars Love, Mishriff and Addeybb.

Like Hurricane Lane, Victor Ludorum also enjoyed Pattern success in France last week with a dominant display in the G3 Prix Messidor at Chantilly. Last season’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner now looks set to return to G1 level for one of Europe’s top mile races, the Prix Jacques Le Marois, at Deauville next month.

In North America, Althiqa and Summer Romance produced another remarkable 1-2 as they fought out the finish to the G1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga, having filled the same positions in the G1 Just A Game Stakes last month. Both fillies, who started the year with G2 victories at Meydan, could yet tackle more targets during Saratoga’s Summer Meet or alternatively have a well-deserved break before heading to Keeneland in the autumn.

Mystic Guide is set for a spell on the sidelines following surgery on a knee chip, although Godolphin still retains a strong hand in the dirt division, with Essential Quality and Maxfield settling in well at Saratoga ahead of their upcoming engagements.