Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud: Vazirabad to be just as good at this trip

Whichever horse wins the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, France’s big mid-season contest for older horses over a mile and a half, has a tough act to follow after Treve’s popular success twelve months ago. There’s no former Arc winner in this year’s line-up, though no fewer than five of them were in the field, along with Treve herself, behind Golden Horn in last year’s Arc.

Among those was Eagle Top, representing John Gosden, who is one of two British-trained entries. A return to the sort of form which saw him beaten a nose by Postponed in last summer’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot would give him place prospects at least, but his efforts since, including in the Arc and when beaten at odds on in Group 3 company at Newbury in May, leave something to be desired.

Last year’s Grand Prix de Paris winner Erupt, one of the best French three-year-old colts of last year, fared best of those who contested the Arc when fifth. That rates as one of the best bits of form in this line-up. However, he too needs to leave his reappearance effort a long way behind as he was eased to return a tailed-off last in the Prix d’Ispahan in May. Soft ground and an inadequate trip at Chantilly were valid excuses but it would be a dramatic turnaround if he can win here.

Another who ran in the d’Ispahan who should be suited by the return to a mile and a half is Silverwave. He stayed on from a hopeless position to finish tenth in the Arc and was a remote third to the runaway Japanese winner A Shin Hikari in the d’Ispahan, but ran well to take second in the Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud earlier this year in a first-time hood.  

A place behind Silverwave in the Ganay was Garlingari who has thrived on a busy campaign this year which has included a defeat of several of these rivals in the Prix d’Harcourt at Chantilly in April. He gave a good account again when second in the Grand Prix de Chantilly last time and meets the winner of that race, One Foot In Heaven, on better terms here. One Foot In Heaven has a bit to find, therefore, but he’s the one horse in the field whose limits probably still haven’t been reached. There were plans to rest him until the autumn after he'd completed a hat-trick in the Grand Prix de Chantilly, but this race makes obvious appeal as his dam Pride won it for the same connections ten years ago.

However, One Foot In Heaven will be Alain de Royer Dupre’s second string to the Aga Khan’s Vazirabad who comes here after winning his last seven races. All of those contests have been over longer trips than a mile and a half, including the Prix Royal-Oak here last autumn and the Dubai Gold Cup in March. He stays well, but travels strongly in his races and coped well with a steadily-run race that turned into a sprint last time when winning the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at this track. The shorter trip shouldn’t inconvenience him, therefore, while the provision of a pacemaker (ex-Irish gelding Alamgiyr) ought to make this a sufficient test.

The only mare in the field is Siljan’s Saga who was a promoted second in this two years ago and would have place prospects again. She was the only one to get within six lengths of Vazirabad when runner-up in the Royal-Oak last year and shaped as though returning to top form when second in the Prix Corrida here a month ago. Manatee was fifth in the Royal-Oak and has twice finished behind Vazirabad again this term, while his fourth place behind Treve in this race last year exposed his lack of pace in top mile and a half company. Andre Fabre’s other runner Harlem is lightly raced, though has given the impression he too will need further than this to be seen to best effect, notably when finishing well for third behind One Foot In Heaven and Garlingari at Chantilly last time.

Prolific Italian winner Dylan Mouth completes the field for Marco Botti. He was an easy winner of the Gran Premio di Milano for the second year running last time on his first start for his Newmarket trainer. This is harder, but he’s another who holds place chances if anywhere near his best again. The selection, though, goes to Vazirabad in the expectation that he’ll be just as effective back at a mile and a half.

Recommendation:

Back Vazirabad in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud   

Timeform weight-adjusted ratings:

138        Vazirabad

136        Erupt

135        Siljan’s Saga

135?      Eagle Top

134        Dylan Mouth