Group 1 action comes from France on Sunday afternoon as the Grand Prix Saint-Cloud Stakes takes centre stage over at Saint-Cloud. Broome landed this prize twelve months ago for trainer Aidan O’Brien and this season’s renewal has attracted a strong looking line-up which includes Charlie Appleby’s triple Group 1 winner Hurricane Lane. Check out our expert’s runner by runner guide to the contest below, alongside bet365’s latest offer where new customers can claim £50 In Free Bets when they bet £10.
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1m4f, Group 1, 3:00 pm Sunday)
BARATTI (André Fabre, Maxime Guyon) 20/1
Talented Frankel colt who has won five of his seven career starts so far. Failed to justify short odds when turned over in Listed company at Chantilly last November but has since returned to winning ways this campaign, landing back to victories, including when last seen in the Lord Seymour Stakes at Longchamp on his first start over twelve furlongs. Should still have plenty more to offer, but takes a marked step up in class on Sunday afternoon and the yard appear to have more pressing claims with Mare Australis.
THIRD REALM (Roger Varian, David Egan) 14/1
Failed to make an impression in either of his four starts in Group company last year as a 3-y-o but has at least showed some encouraging signs since having his sights lowered this season. Finished third in Listed company at Ascot on his seasonal return in May before going on to impressively register his third career victory with a dominant display in the Tapster Stakes at Goodwood later that month (Lone Eagle third). Has to prove that last time out success wasn’t just a flash in the pan and faces much tougher opposition here.
LONE EAGLE (Martin Meade, Silvestre De Sousa) 14/1
Quickly made up into a useful juvenile for connections a couple of seasons ago and confirmed his early promise with some smart performances at three last year. Ready winner of the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood last May before running a screamer behind Hurricane Lane when beaten just a neck in the Irish Derby at the Curragh. Picked up an injury on his final start as a 3-y-o in the King George at Ascot and looked badly in need of the return to action when finishing over seven lengths behind Third Realm in the Tapster Stakes back in May. Clearly has the ability to make his mark at the top level, but does come into this with still some questions to answer.
MARE AUSTRALIS (André Fabre, Olivier Peslier) 5/1
Landed the Group 1 Prix Ganay in impressive style at Longchamp last season for connections and was far from disgraced when trying to defend his crown in this season’s renewal, beaten two lengths in fourth behind subsequent Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner State Of Rest. Returned to something like his best when comfortably brushing aside eight rivals in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly when last seen and looks set to make a bold bid on Sunday for a trainer that knows exactly what it takes to land this particular prize, having sent out eight winners of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in the past.
HURRICANE LANE (Charlie Appleby, William Buick) 6/5
Developed into an outstanding 3-y-o for connections last season, picking up the Group 2 Dante at York on just his third racecourse outing before going on to record an impressive hat-trick at the highest level with notable performances in the Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger. Rounded last year off with a smashing effort in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but was certainly below his best on his seasonal return at Royal Ascot last month, finishing four lengths behind Broome in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. Quick ground and lack of fitness are perhaps to blame for his surprising defeat that day and should take plenty of beating this weekend if back on song.
HIGH DEFINITION (Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore) 11/1
Galileo colt who remains winless since landing the Group 2 Beresford Stakes as a juvenile at the Curragh back in September 2020. Didn’t progress as expected during his 3-y-o season last year, but has faired significantly better in his four outings this term for top connections. No match for a progressive winner in his first two starts earlier this year but ran his best race for some time when finishing ahead of subsequent Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner State Of Rest at the Curragh in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his penultimate start. Wasn’t best suited by Epsom’s undulations when finishing third in the Coronation Cup when last seen but still isn’t one for maximum faith given his overall profile and may find one or two too good.
BUBBLE GIFT (Mikel Delzangles, Cristian Demuro) 20/1
Narrowly prevailed in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart Stakes and the Qatar Prix Niel Stakes at Longchamp last year but failed to make much of an impression on his only two outings in Group 1 company that same season. Finished nine lengths behind Hurricane Lane in the Grand Prix de Paris in July before trailing home in eighth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Wasn’t devoid of promise when chasing home Mare Australis on just his second outing this term in the Grand Prix de Chantilly but it’s hard to envisage him turning the tables on that rival on Sunday and clearly has plenty to find with a few of these at this level.
SWEET LADY (Francis-Henri Graffard, Ioritz Mendizabal) 33/1
Won two of her six starts last year for connections including the Group 3 Prix de Flore at this very course back in October. Failed to win on her either of her two starts at Group 1 level in between, however, but was far from disgraced in defeat and was beaten an aggregate of just four lengths in the Poule D’Essai Pouliches & Prix de Diane. Not beaten far behind Baratti on her first start over twelve furlongs in the Listed Lord Seymour Stakes on her seasonal return in April, and displayed a fine attitude when staying on strongly to land the Group 2 Prix Corrida over ten furlongs last time out at Saint-Cloud. Clearly unexposed over this trip but faces some top-class performers on Sunday afternoon and could be up against it.
ALPINISTA (Sir Mark Prescott, Luke Morris) 11/2
Classy Frankel Filly who won all five of her starts last season for connections. Gamely fended off the challengers to land a Listed contest at Goodwood last April before following up with a dominant display in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock in July. Continued her remarkable progression over a mile and a half with three Group 1 victories in Germany towards the end of the year and could still be open to plenty of improvement this season as a 5-y-o. Does have a 238-day layoff to overcome as she makes her eagerly anticipated return the weekend, but it seems fairly significant that connections have decided to send her over to contest this Group 1 prize and she appears to have a leading chance once more.
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Verdict
The home challenge appears to be spearheaded by Mare Australis who bids to provide trainer André Fabre with a record-breaking ninth victory in this contest. The son of Australia returned to winning ways in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly last time out and is unbeaten in two starts over this trip. However, this can go the way of HURRICANE LANE, who had excuses when failing to make a winning return at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes last month and should be spot on for Sunday’s Group 1 assignment. The triple Group 1 winner never looked at home on the fast ground when last seen at the Royal meeting and should find conditions much more suitable this weekend. Sir Mark Prescott will be hopeful Alpinista can pick up where she left off despite having to defy a lengthy absence, while Aidan O’Brien’s High Definition has the form in the book to play a part in the finish and isn’t without a shout despite his overall strike rate.
- HURRICANE LANE
- Mare Australis
- High Definition
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