Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Aidan O'Brien trainee Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}--Aktoria {Fr}, by Canford Cliffs {Ire}) lined up for Monday's G3 Prix Greffulhe coming back off a third in last month's G3 Prix La Force at ParisLongchamp and dipped into deep reserves to prevail in a thrilling finish to the 10 1/2-furlong test. He had concluded a five-race juvenile campaign with a fourth in Newmarket's Sept. 24 G2 Royal Lodge S. in his penultimate start and stalked the pace in second for the most part. Readied for his challenge passing the quarter-mile marker,...
Al Asayl France's homebred 2020 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Hazel Lavery {Ire}, by Excellent Art {GB}), returning off an Oct. 15 seventh when making his fourth start in the Ascot benchmark last time, registered a hat-trick in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Altipan with a comfortable win in Thursday's latest edition of the one-mile test. It was the 8-year-old gelding's sixth success in eight outings over the track's course and distance. Settling into a smooth rhythm racing at the tail of the eight-runner field into the...
Ballymore Thoroughbred Racing's undefeated 3-year-old filly Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Painter's Pride {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) delivered a spectacular winning debut last month, attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status with a four-length tally atop Chantilly's all-weather surface, and made a smooth transition into black-type company with an impressive pillar-to-post victory on the turf in Thursday's Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. The 1-2 favourite broke smartly and held sway throughout the 10-furlong contest. Unflustered and dominating into the straight, she was allowed an inch of rein soon after passing...
Ahmad Al Shaikh's Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion--Beach Bunny {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) backed up victories at Windsor and Kempton in August with a half-length second in last month's G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket and stepped forward to register a determined success in Saturday's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, becoming the first Group 1 winner from the lone crop of his sire (by Kitten's Joy). The 49-10 chance was swiftly into stride and led through the early fractions of this 10-furlong test. Headed on the turn for home, he...
Aidan O'Brien has trimmed his overnight entry of eight down to two for Saturday's £200,000 G1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster, Europe's final juvenile Group 1 contest of the season. TDN Rising Star and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the mount of Ryan Moore and has been allocated stall six for the one-mile test. He is set to be joined by Navan maiden winner Salt Lake City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will depart from the eight box. The home defence is spearheaded by John...
Quality bloodstock has been in high demand at a range of venues and all price points on an international scale despite ongoing political upheaval in 2022, and Arqana's Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud on Saturday evening continued that trend. Dominating the buyers' sheets was Jean-Pierre de Gaste and Alexandra Saint Martin's International Thoroughbred Consultants (I.T.C.). The duo picked up a quintet of horses, including the Classic-placed Schwarzer Peter (Ger) (Neatico {Ger}) (lot 17)--the €1-million sales topper--exclusively on behalf of Sheikh Haif Mohammed Al Qahtani's Haif Company. Those five lots grossed €2.94...
Aidan O'Brien trainee Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}--Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) notched a landmark score for his sire (by Sunday Silence) when snagging an Aug. 20 maiden over seven furlongs at the Curragh and maintained his perfect record with a battling success in a controversial renewal of Friday's one-mile G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club du Turquie at Saint-Cloud. The eventual winner occupied a slot behind the leaders in third and was safely clear of trouble to his outer when British challenger Captain Wierzba (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire})...
Rashit Shaykhutdinov's homebred 2-year-old filly Gain It (GB) (De Treville {GB}--Gagarina {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) registered a snug one-length tally tackling 6 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud last month and returned to that debut scene of that triumph to claim 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a monster exhibition upped to seven furlongs for Saturday's Prix Amber Rama. Adopting different tactics after a sharp exit and in command throughout, the 7-10 favourite was untroubled in the straight and powered ever clear inside the final quarter mile to easily outclass dual winner Ser Sed...
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features the full-sister to Intelligence Cross. 4.10 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BURMESE RUBY (War Front) is a full-sister to the G1 QEII Cup third Sweet Orange and the G3 Round Tower S. winner Intelligence Cross who debuts in the Westerberg silks for the Andre Fabre...
Gemini Stud's Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}--High Heel Sneakers {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) posted a career high in October's G3 Prix de Flore at Saint-Cloud and lined up for Tuesday's G3 Prix Corrida back over the same 10 1/2-furlong distance at the Paris venue returning off a second in April's Listed Prix Lord Seymour at ParisLongchamp. The 5-2 second favourite adopted her usual patient tactics and was positioned off the tempo in fifth for the most part. Nudged along to close with 500 metres remaining, she quickened in...
Fabrice Chappet trainee and 185,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling and $535,000 Ocala April breeze-up graduate Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Onshore {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a dominant performance going one mile at Chantilly in September, but had floundered in two subsequent outings before lining up as a 12-1 chance for Sunday's G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. Second contesting an Oct. 21 Deauville conditions heat in his only other juvenile start, he opened his sophomore campaign with a close-up eighth in ParisLongchamp's Apr. 18...
Juddmonte's unbeaten 3-year-old filly Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) defeated subsequent Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux victrix Singforthemoment (Ire) (No Nay Never) when graduating over ParisLongchamp's one-mile strip in a Sept. 2 debutantes' heat, her sole juvenile outing, and doubled up in style going 10 furlongs on seasonal return with a three-length tally and a career high in Saint-Cloud's Mar. 10 Listed Prix Rose de Mai last time. Upped in trip once more for Saturday's G3 Prix Penelope back at Saint-Cloud, the May 15 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and June...










