There will be UK and Irish interest at Saint-Cloud on Saturday with Westover attempting to emulate 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista by winning the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud en route to the autumn showpiece.
There will be UK and Irish interest at Saint-Cloud on Saturday with Westover attempting to emulate 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista by winning the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud en route to the autumn showpiece.
A small field of five line up for 1m4f Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (3:55) with Irish Derby winner Westover heading the betting for trainer Ralph Beckett. Although the four-year-old has not won since his Classic success in June 2022, he's produced some commendable efforts in defeat including a sixth in the 'Arc' behind last year's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Alpinista. He returned after a winter break with a good second behind Equinox in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and filled the same position behind Emily Upjohn in the Group 1 Coronation Cup. The form of that victory may be given a boost dependant on the result of the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown fifteen minutes earlier, and Westover will have the assistance of pacemaker Malabu Drive.
Trained by Yann Barberot, Zagrey heads the home defence. He returns to a French racetrack for the first time since a Listed win at Chantilly in October, having started the season with three runs at Meydan. He out-ran all expectations to finish third behind Equinox and Westover in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic on his first attempt over twelve furlongs and he will probably appreciate the return to a softer surface.
German raider Tunnes has been bravely campaigned by connections and finished fourth in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs behind Emily Upjohn. He was beaten nearly fifteen lengths at the line and although a return to a more conventional track will suit, the four-year-old would need to find some improvement to feature.
WIN: ZAGREY
The 1m2f Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam looks to be a competitive affair with two runners from the UK and Ireland going head-to-head with three French colts.
Charlie Appleby's Bold Act has proven form at Group level and has produced two strong performances since a gelding operation, finished second at Newbury before a third in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes behind Waipiro.
Bloodstock enthusiasts will be excited to see Dermot Weld's Knight To King, who is out of Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime, and a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath. He was a seven-and-a-half length victor of a Gowran Park maiden on debut and is an exciting prospect for connections.
The French colts are headed by André Fabre's Maniatic who stepped up in trip when third in the Group 3 Prix du Lys at Chantilly on his last start. He returns to ten furlongs for the first time since placing second behind subsequent Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact in the Listed Prix de Suresnes. The Brandt's Cassius makes the step up into Listed company for the first time after recording back-to-back conditions races whilst Horizon Dore enjoyed the step up to ten furlongs when taking the Listed Prix Ridgway at Longchamp in early June.
WIN: KNIGHT TO KING
