By Tom Frary
With Ascot's G1 Gold Cup on the horizon, Sunday's G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Chantilly offers another opportunity to assess the claims of His Highness The Aga Khan's star French stayer Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}). Having scared away all bar three over-matched rivals, this race which he annexed 12 months ago may not provide a major clue as to whether he has the material to oust Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from his throne in the June 22 feature at the Royal meeting. Last seen winning a strong renewal of the two-mile G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Mar. 25, the dual G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero should deal with the opposition without being fully-tuned. Representing this venue's Apr. 30 G3 Prix de Barbeville are the second and third Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Travelling Man (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the winner Marmelo (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) has since upheld that with a close-up fifth in the G2 Yorkshire Cup.
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