Cirrus Des Aigles overhauled So You Think and broke the track record to score his first Group 1 victory in the British Champions (Middle Distance) Stakes (2000m) at Ascot on Saturday.

But the result was mired in controversy after winning jockey Christophe Soumillon was handed a five-day ban and stripped of his share of the prize-money for over-use of the whip in the final furlong.

So You Think (High Chaparral) was the centre of a huge gamble firming from 3-1 to start a 7-4 favourite but he failed by three-quarters of a length.  

So You Think got a nice tow through the early part of the race behind front-runners Ransom Note and Nathaniel.  He travelled strongly under Ryan Moore but failed to put the race to bed.  He battled all the way to the line and was ground down inside the closing stages by the fast-finishing winner.

Snow Fairy (Intikhab) picked up well when she was switched wide of the retreating pacemakers to take third.

Cirrus Des Aigles (5g Even Top – Taille De Guepe by Septieme Ciel) had to miss the Arc in his home country due to being a gelding, but he more than made up for that disappointment by almost doubling his career earnings on Britain’s richest race day.

“It means a lot.  I have always thought he is a very good horse and I am very happy for the owner and all the team,” trainer Corinne Barande-Barbe said.  “I thought he was going to do it and he just did it.”