Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud preview: Cut from the right Cloth

By the close of play on Saturday evening, Jack Mitchell will have ridden for 11 different trainers this week, with no more than three rides for any one stable. Perhaps, then, it’s no great surprise to see his name on the list of confirmed jockeys for Sunday’s Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Mitchell isn’t booked to ride a British raider, though, as he gets the leg up on an old favourite trained by Jens Hirschberger; Oriental Eagle. Mitchell rode the horse to win the Deutsches St Leger at Dortmund last September, but the pair were well held in the Prix Royal-Oak over 15f here on the horse’s final start last term. He won the Gerling-Preis well at Cologne on his reappearance in May, but overdid things in front, going six to seven lengths clear at one point in the back straight, when last of six behind Iquitos and Guignol in the Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft at Baden-Baden last time.

German contenders

On form, and weight-adjusted Timeform ratings, Oriental Eagle is the weakest of the three German contenders, with both Iquitos and Guignol holding superior claims. This pair of six-year-olds have had many a battle over the years, including in the Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft last time, where Iquitos put up a career-best effort to gain a second win in the race (also successful in 2016 and runner-up to Guignol in 2017). Guignol could only finish third in this year’s renewal, beaten three and a quarter lengths, but he was making his reappearance there and can be expected to benefit from the outing. Each will bid to become the first German-trained winner of the race since Novellist landed the 2013 renewal.

British challengers

The Clive Cox-trained My Dream Boat fared best of the British contingent 12 months ago, and Coronet (John Gosden) and Salouen (Sylvester Kirk) will carry the flag this time around. Gosden’s Eagle Top was only ninth in the 2016 renewal, but Coronet appears to hold leading claims of faring better, despite having a bit to find on ratings. A smart performer, she won the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2017 and made a successful return to action in the Middleton Stakes at York last time. The fourth has since won to give the form a boost, and it appeared to be stamina - rather than anything else - which let her down the last time she faced the males, in last year’s St Leger (beat colts as a two-year-old).

Coronet handles the drop back in trip well, winning on seasonal debut in strong style for John Gosden and @FrankieDettori pic.twitter.com/LBsmJqCMHw

— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 17, 2018

Salouen, meanwhile, was well ridden when beaten just a head by Cracksman in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but the winner has not truly embossed the form, having raced lazily when second to Poet's Word in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. The third, fourth, and fifth from Epsom have all since been beaten as well, so Salouen will likely need to improve again if he is to gain a first pattern-race success.

In-form filly

Bateel was formerly trained in England by David Simcock, but she has taken her form to new levels since joining Francis-Henri Graffard prior to the start of last season. She progressed well, winning the Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock, Prix de Pomone at Deauville and Prix Vermeille at Chantilly (by two and a half lengths from Journey), and was also a creditable two lengths second to Hydrangea in the Fillies' And Mares' Stakes at Ascot on her final start that term. She gained her fourth pattern-race win, giving weight away all round, when landing the Prix Corrida here on her reappearance in May.

Market leaders

A pair of Andre Fabre-trained runners complete the eight-strong field, namely Waldgeist and Cloth of Stars. Though good enough to win twice as a juvenile, the Gestut Ammerland-bred Waldgeist was always likely to improve with time and a trip (dam a half-sister to St Leger winner Masked Marvel, from the family of Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark) and he looks set for a very good four-year-old season judging by two wins over this trip since his seasonal reappearance at Longchamp. He readily won the Grand Prix de Chantilly last time by three lengths from Dschingis Secret, who tops Timeform ratings for Sunday's Grosser Hansa-Preis at Hamburg, and the market leader is respected here.

#Plat 2e du #QIPCO #JockeyClub l'an passé, Waldgeist #Galileo (A.Fabre / @PCBOUDOT) s'épanouit sur la distance classique, il fait sien le Grand Prix de Chantilly Gr.2 @fgchantilly pic.twitter.com/LKM0MOEsO3

— Equidia (@equidia) June 3, 2018

Cloth of Stars produced a career-best effort (top-class form) when two and a half lengths second to Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on his final outing in 2017, but hasn’t been able to match that in three starts this season, only beating one home when sixth to Waldgeist in the Grand Prix de Chantilly last time. That doesn’t tell the full story however, as he failed to get a run on the rails, wasn't given a hard time by his jockey, and should fare much better here granted more luck in running.

Conclusion

Andre Fabre has won this race six times, including with Meandre in 2012, and he has a strong chance once more, with Waldgeist the pick of his pair on recent form. However, with Guignol and Oriental Eagle likely to set a stronger pace than is sometimes the case in these top-level French races, it could be perfectly set up for the 4/1 chance Cloth of Stars. A hold-up performer, he didn’t get the rub of the green last time, but has a fantastic record at this venue (form figures read 2-1-1-3-1-1) and is preferred to Iquitos who looks overpriced at 10/1.

Recommended bet:

Cloth of Stars to win Sunday’s Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at 4/1