Saint-Cloud Racecourse

Francis Graffard's stable continues its plunder of French stakes contests and the hitherto unbeaten Midak (Footstepsinthesand) made his mark for the yard with a pillar-to-post victory in Friday's G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. The 13-5 second choice, successful in staying contests at Lyon La Soie and Chantilly, asserted for early control after a level break in this black-type debut and held sway throughout. Shaken up when threatened with 500 metres remaining, he was ridden clear approaching the final furlong and kept on relentlessly in the closing stages to easily account...

Haras d'Etreham resident Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Adam West-trained daughter Viva La Skids (Fr) pounced late in the Thursday's six-furlong Prix Royal Hampton at Saint-Cloud to defeat 11 rivals on debut. Occupying a position off the tempo towards the rear for the most part, the 77-2 outsider made relentless headway under pressure out wide inside the final quarter-mile and inched ahead in the dying strides to defeat Kalkara (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) by a neck. Viva La Skids, kin...

Francis Graffard trainee Vadinska (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) delivered an impressive debut performance in Thursday's Prix Fourire at Saint-Cloud and earned a TDN Rising Star badge after registering a 10-length success in the one-mile debutantes' heat. The January-foaled bay, who lined up as the 4-5 favourite here, broke from the outside stall and tracked the leading duo from a position three lengths off the tempo through the initial fractions. Inching closer rounding the home turn, she cruised to the front on the bridle in early straight and lengthened clear in style...

With seven runs under her belt entering Friday's G3 Auguste Rodin Coolmore Prix Cleopatre, Zia Agnese (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}) was by far the most exposed contender in the 10 1/2-furlong Classic trial and made her experience tell with a game pillar-to-post triumph. The outsider of five, fresh off a course-and-distance fifth on seasonal return earlier in the month, broke well and led from flagfall. Coming under pressure when threatened in early straight, she refused to yield inside the final quarter-mile and was ridden out to hold all-comers at bay in...

Craig Bernick's Audubon Park (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Right Hand {GB}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) delivered a stunning late burst to notch a four-length debut score going 9 1/2 furlongs atop Chantilly's synthetic surface last month and repeated the dose upped to 10 furlongs on the turf with a perfect G1 Prix de Diane audition in Thursday's Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. The well-backed 3-5 favourite was smartly into stride from the inside stall and settled into a smooth rhythm behind the leaders in third until slipping to fourth...

With an aggregate 104 engaged at the beginning of the week, contestants for Sunday's two juvenile Group 1 contests at Saint-Cloud have been whittled down to 10 after declarations were confirmed Friday morning. The one-mile G1 Criterium International has six declared for a mouthwatering renewal which features 'TDN Rising Stars' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the lone French-trained runner remaining, and supplementary entry Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The latter, who makes a swift return to action after debuting in style at Leopardstown last Saturday, is set to be...

Over 150 delegates from 40 different countries heard from key integrity leaders in racing and other major sports at the 58th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Held in France at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, the 2024 conference was focused on upholding racing integrity, a key strategic point of the IFHA, and the overall programme examined items of key integrity threats and lessons from previous cases to determine how racing can utilise the most current approaches and techniques to protect the sport. Among keynote speakers was Justice Frank Clarke, the director of...

Perfect through two eyecatching wins at Deauville in August and Chantilly last month, 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) continued his impressive rise with an untroubled pillar-to-post triumph in Friday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud to retain his unbeaten record in style. The 1-5 favourite was swiftly into stride and soon established a clear lead. Tanking along in hand throughout, he was in another parish turning for home and required minimal encouragement in the straight to easily outclass...

Blu Racing's Louisiana-bred Jovialite (Medaglia D'Oro--Juanita, by Mineshaft), a $225,000 OBS March Breeze-Up graduate, went postward at double-digit odds for Monday's Prix Fast Fox at Saint-Cloud and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette after turning the 6 1/2-furlong contest into a procession. The Fabrice Chappet trainee was well away from an outer stall and stalked the pace in second through halfway. Inching ahead soon after turning for home, the 127-10 chance quickened clear in style approaching the final furlong and extended her margin of superiority under minimal urging...

Christopher Head trainee Angeal (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Curvy {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), a €110,000 Goffs Orby daughter of GI E. P. Taylor Stakes victrix and G1 Irish Oaks third Curvy, continued on a winning roll and went two-for-two in Sunday's seven-furlong €34,000 Prix Amber Rama at Saint-Cloud. 1st-Saint-Cloud, €34,000, Cond, 6-30, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.43, g/s. ANGEAL (IRE) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}--Curvy {GB} {GISW-Can, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, $555,392}, by Galileo {Ire}), who graduated over six furlongs here in her May 20 debut last time, broke sharply from the outside...

Haras Voltaire's Andre Fabre trainee Gun Of Brixton (Fr) (Frankel {GB}--Cat Kate {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) finished 3/4-of-a-length behind 'TDN Rising Star' Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) at Saint-Cloud last month and returned to the same venue to register a stylish victory in Tuesday's Prix Chateau Bouscaut over seven furlongs. 2nd-Saint-Cloud, €30,000, Mdn, 6-11, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:30.51, gd. GUN OF BRIXTON (FR) (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Cat Kate {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who encountered the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point...

Coolmore Ashford resident Maximum Security (New Year's Day) collected his first success as a freshman sire when Kentucky-bred colt Monarh Bars annexed his debut run by six lengths at the Pavlovskiy Hippodrome in Russia last month. He doubled his tally with Christopher Head trainee Rosa Salvaje (Ire) in Tuesday's €30,000 Prix Allee d'Amour over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud. The filly was bred by Yeguada Centurion SLU who purchased the dam, Idle Hour, for $130,000 at Keeneland November in 2020. "Rosa Salvaje is off to a very good start today, coming...