Godolphin star Hurricane Lane shines on Bastille Day

William Buick steers Irish Derby hero to success at Longchamp

Godolphin’s Irish derby hero Hurricane Lane completed back-to-back Group 1 prizes by taking the Grand Prix de Paris after an eye-catching run on Bastille Day at the Longchamp racetrack. Godolphin

Godolphin’s Irish derby hero Hurricane Lane completed back-to-back Group 1 prizes by taking the Grand Prix de Paris after an eye-catching run on Bastille Day at the Longchamp racetrack.

The Frankel colt, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, followed up his victory at the Curragh last month by trouncing the 11-runner field by six lengths on Wednesday.

Buick settled Hurricane Lane in second behind the pacesetting The Mediterranean before unleashing his run two furlongs to take the 12-furlong contest in soft conditions.

“It was a more straightforward race for me than in Ireland,” Buick said. “We were better placed today and the ground was maybe a little bit kinder on him. But I think he's improved again.

“Credit to Charlie and the team at home to get him out of the Irish Derby. He had a hard race there and they were adamant this was a good target for him and they've been repaid.

“I was really impressed with him today. He keeps getting quicker. In Ireland he showed a bit of a turn of foot. And then today, I know the ground is slow today but it's quite a quick track.

“You run downhill and then the straight is dead flat, there's no rise in it. He really picked up. He put it to bed really quick. He's improved again and he's just a very good horse.”

Wordsworth, one of three trained by Aidan O'Brien was second followed by the British-trained William Haggas’ Alenquer a further one and-a-quarter lengths down in third.

Hurricane Lane's latest success, following wins in the Dante and Irish Derby, and third in the English Derby in-between, continued Appleby and Godolphin's remarkable run with the Classic generation over middle distances.

Adayar, who is set to run in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot next week, won last month's Derby, while geldings Kemari and Yibir have won the Queen's Vase and Bahrain Trophy in recent weeks.

Separating all that middle-distance talent in the months to come may prove tricky for Appleby back at his Moulton Paddocks base in Newmarket, but Buick expects a return to Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be high on the agenda for Hurricane Lane.

“Charlie will speak to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed (bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai) and they will make a plan for the horse. I would say one eye will certainly be back here in October,” he added.