'Same class as Palace Pier' - Fabre masterstroke as Persian King sinks Pinatubo

Persian King produced a shattering display to confirm his place at the top table among Europe's elite milers, leaving supporters of the fast-finishing Pinatubo to rue the way a fascinating and pulsating Prix du Moulin played out.

In doing so Persian King led trainer Andre Fabre to proclaim him the equal of Palace Pier at the very summit of the division, although the master trainer will now set his sights on a step up in trip to crown a season in which the son of Kingman has taken his Group 1 tally from one to three.

Prix du Moulin result

Fabre had not hidden his confidence beforehand about Persian King's chances, telling the Racing Post that he was "happier than ever with his condition and his work", while even the less observant among paddock-watchers will have noted a horse who stripped much fitter and leaner than earlier in the season.

Fabre said: "It was obviously a very good race with almost the best of both generations so what can you say? You can consider him the best European miler, matched alongside the Marois winner. He's the same class as Palace Pier."

In comparison to the three-year-olds, Pinatubo and Siskin, Persian King was shown relatively little love by the betting public after his no-show on very deep ground in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

However, in the wake of this pounding performance he was cut by Ladbrokes from 20-1 into 7-1 for the Qipco Champion Stakes, while the same firm make him a 20-1 chance should connections roll the dice over his stamina in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

"He had some issues which meant I couldn't train him properly until now," said Fabre. "But now he is really fit and he showed how good he really is.

"I always thought that he could go a bit further so he is entered in the Champion Stakes and he is entered in the Arc. I didn't enter him in the mile race at Ascot."

Pinatubo is closing but not enough to catch Persian KingCredit: racing.com Staff

While Fabre was claiming a seventh Moulin, winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot was tasting success for the first time, and he was quick to deflect any credit for his positive ride in the slipstream of Circus Maximus early on, when the pair went clear of the four horses in behind, who were being ridden for their turn of foot.

"Last time out the ground was atrocious and, while I'm delighted he's won today, he has always been a great horse," said Boudot.

"I wouldn't say I've ridden anything other than a regular race, but I'm lucky to work for a genius and the horse had a great run up to this race and arrived here in top form."

Godolphin have a half-share in Persian King alongside the Wildenstein family as well as being the owner-breeder of the runner-up and, in reality, there was always likely to be a tension between what would suit a horse who had won the Prix d'Ispahan and been second in a Jockey Club, as opposed to the more fleet-of-foot Pinatubo.

Reflecting on the race, Pinatubo's jockey James Doyle said: "It's annoying when the front two get a break on you like that but we were mindful of the mile and we wanted to ride him patiently.

"I followed Siskin and he elected to give the front two a bit of a gap and he's a horse that, when you do pull him into space, he lights up, so we just had to sit and suffer. He's made up a lot of ground and the mile is definitely no problem."

Palace Pier shortens for QEII

Persian King was bouncing back from a disappointing fourth in last month's Prix Jacques le Marois, behind the impressive Palace Pier.

Following the defeat of Pinatubo, Siskin and Circus Maximus here, Coral shortened Palace Pier to 4-5 (from evens) for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day next month.

Circus Maximus was only able to lead Persian King until the entry to the home straight, but he stuck on with resolution to be third, albeit six lengths behind Pinatubo.

"He has run very well and is very consistent," said Alan Cooper, racing manager to co-owners the Niarchos Family. "We were at our best today but so was Persian King and he proved too strong.

"The various parties will discuss the future, but he has options like the QEII Stakes and the Breeders' Cup."

More big-race reports:

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Dream Of Dreams lands first Group 1 as Doyle is denied famous success

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