With an aggregate 104 engaged at the beginning of the week, contestants for Sunday's two juvenile Group 1 contests at Saint-Cloud have been whittled down to 10 after declarations were confirmed Friday morning.
The one-mile G1 Criterium International has six declared for a mouthwatering renewal which features 'TDN Rising Stars' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the lone French-trained runner remaining, and supplementary entry Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The latter, who makes a swift return to action after debuting in style at Leopardstown last Saturday, is set to be accompanied by his Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who was the joint highest-priced lot when knocked down for €420,000 at last year's Arqana October yearling sale. The line-up is completed by Goffs Million victor Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G3 Solario Stakes runner-up Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and the Andrew Balding-trained maiden Spirit Of Summer (GB) (Mohaather {GB}).
The 10-furlong G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud has just four engaged with those remaining all from overseas. Aidan O'Brien relies on G1 Fillies' Mile third and supplementary entry Ballet Slippers (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the lone filly across both fields, while son Joseph will saddle G2 Beresford Stakes runner-up Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The quartet also includes Peter Chapple-Hyam trainee Harvey (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who ran third behind Maranoa Charlie in last month's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon, and Charlie Johnston representative Green Storm (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}). With five runs under his belt, the latter is the most experienced left standing and was last seen running second in this month's G3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket.
France's final Group 1 contest of the season, the G1 Prix Royal-Oak, takes place later on the card and has attracted a field of eight. Last year's winner Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) will return off a fifth in the G1 Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend and his rivals include mud-loving Cadran runner-up Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and G1 St Leger fifth Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
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