Skazino holds off rivals to retain Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp

Thursday: Longchamp, Prix Vicomtesse Vigier

Skazino entered the Ascot Gold Cup picture following a second successive triumph in the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier.

Last year's winner, trained by Richard Chotard, finished ahead of Joie De Soir in second and The Good Man in third as Mickael Barzalona steered the four-year-old to victory.

In doing so, Skazino made it three wins at the track, but won for the first time since joining Chotard from Cedric Rossi in February.

As a result, the six-year-old is now 16-1 with most firms for the Gold Cup at next month's royal meeting.

Full result from the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier

When asked about the chances of a run at Royal Ascot, owner Pauline Chehboub said: "Yes, it is a possibility, but we don't know yet. We need to see how he comes out of the race and then we will see.

"He is entered in the Gold Cup so we can only dream. It was a very emotional victory and Mickael rode the horse with confidence and he showed that he stays."

Bubble Smart, who was favourite for the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, had to settle for sixth under Gerald Mosse.

The five-year-old mare also holds an entry for the Ascot Gold Cup and she is a general 33-1 shot.

The Dermot Weld-trained Search For A Song and Sea Dreamin both set the early pace in the race, but they finished seventh and eighth respectively.

Search For A Song, who won the Irish St Leger at the Curragh in 2020, is also priced at a general 33-1 for the Gold Cup.

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