French raider Cirrus Des Aigles claimed the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in a driving finish from So You Think.

A multiple winner across the Channel, the 12-1 chance was given a perfect ride by Christophe Soumillon.

Handled expertly by Corine Barande-Barbe throughout his career, the five-year-old gelding claimed So You Think inside the final 100 yards to score by three-quarters of a length, with Snow Fairy an unlucky third.

William Buick was keen to lead on Nathaniel and was still in front two furlongs out, where Ryan Moore was in the perfect position on So You Think, and he took over as they entered the final furlong. However, Soumillon had his move covered and the winner set a new course record for 10 furlongs.

Barande-Barbe said: "This means a lot because I always thought he was very good. I wasn't nervous because I went to see him before the race and he put me at ease. I trust him. For me he's been sent from another world to help all of us.

"To win a Group One against the best horses in England is fantastic. I knew he could do it and now he's done it. He keeps improving, and has just run best race of his life. As long as he keeps enjoying it we will keep going. He's a gelding, but I'm not a commercial trainer and for me sport is racing.

"Last year we went to Japan and Hong Kong. He's had quite a hard season so probably we will just go to Hong Kong. This is the best day I've had in racing. Thank you to all the British people who have welcomed us."

Soumillon added: "I'm really amazed, today is a great day for French racing. I'm really happy because he's a French mascot but had never run a Group One in France before despite winning a lot of good French races.

"Even at the Arc meeting he was only just beaten by Byword, who won a good race here (Prince Of Wales's Stakes). He's a champion and I'm really happy to see him do that today.

"I thought Ryan (Moore) was going to win when he hit the front, but my horse came back well. It's something special, a great day."