By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien had experienced a famine of sorts since annexing 2010's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud with Recital (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}), but he was back in the familiar surroundings of Saint-Cloud's winner's circle after Ballydoyle second string Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}–Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) prevailed in a blanket finish to Sunday's latest renewal of the 10-furlong feature.
The 67-10 chance found the necessary gears late on to register an ultimately impressive debut success tackling nine furlongs at Tipperary at the beginning of last month and was well away to track the leaders in fourth through halfway here. Sent wide to the stands' side rail off the home turn, he was bustled along to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and stayed on strongly under continued urging to deny Joseph O'Brien trainee and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. second Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by a neck. The podium was an O'Brien family affair with the winner's stablemate Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) keeping on well to finish 3/4-of-a-length adrift in third.
“He's a very big horse, I imagine he will be even better next year and we're very happy,” the winning trainer commented after collecting a fifth edition. “He won very well, going left-handed, at Tipperary and Seamus [Heffernan] loved him when he rode him [there]. Christophe [Soumillon] was a bit worried because he wasn't changing his legs throughout the race, but he said he picked up very nicely. He'd only had the one run and this was great experience for him. He's obviously still a bit babyish, but I'm delighted that he won. He could get a mile-and-a-half next year and he's something to look forward to.”
Los Angeles will seek to break an alarming trend set by recent winners. The gold medal has become something of a millstone since Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) prevailed in 2016, with 2020 victor Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) the only one of five to have added to his tally, in that quintet's 41 aggregate starts, after claiming a career high in the contest.
Reflecting on the effort of runner-up Islandsinthestream, Joseph O'Brien said, “It was a very good run and I'm proud of the horse's performance. It was a very good ride from Maxime [Guyon], but it's always frustrating when you get beaten in a Group 1. He'll have a holiday now and we'll look forward to some of those 3-year-old Group 1 races next summer. He's a horse we'll probably campaign internationally as well as at home.”
2024 Derby clues 🔍
The Irish dominate the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as Los Angeles just gets his head in front for @Ballydoyle 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/KlG06q21au
— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) October 22, 2023
Pedigree Notes
Los Angeles, half-brother to a yearling colt by No Nay Never, is one of three winners from as many runners produced by an unraced half-sister to G3 Prix Messidor victor Impulsif (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The February-foaled dark bay is a full-brother to G3 Ballyroan S. third Hector De Maris (Ire) and this year's G3 Prix Penelope third Be Happy (Ire). His third dam, G3 Prix de Flore victrix Allez Les Trois (Riverman), produced G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa) and is a half-sister to storied blue hen Urban Sea (Miswaki).
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 2yo, c/f, 10fT, 2:15.25, vsf.
1–LOS ANGELES (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Frequential (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Violante, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Allez Les Trois, by Riverman
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Christophe Soumillon. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €151,850. *Full to Be Happy (Ire), GSP-Fr & SP-Ire; and Hector De Maris (Ire), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Islandsinthestream (Ire), 128, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–A Mist Opportunity (Aus), by Foxwedge (Aus). (€135,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Islandsinthestream Partnership; B-Haras d'Etreham & Katelanis Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €57,150.
3–Illinois (Ire), 128, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,575.
Margins: NK, 3/4, NK. Odds: 6.70, 1.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Ramadan (Fr), Bracken's Laugh (Ire), Shiffrin (Ire), Casapueblo (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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