Saint-Cloud Racecourse

Quality bloodstock has been in high demand at a range of venues and all price points on an international scale despite ongoing political upheaval in 2022, and Arqana's Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud on Saturday evening continued that trend. Dominating the buyers' sheets was Jean-Pierre de Gaste and Alexandra Saint Martin's International Thoroughbred Consultants (I.T.C.). The duo picked up a quintet of horses, including the Classic-placed Schwarzer Peter (Ger) (Neatico {Ger}) (lot 17)--the €1-million sales topper--exclusively on behalf of Sheikh Haif Mohammed Al Qahtani's Haif Company. Those five lots grossed €2.94...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}--Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) notched a landmark score for his sire (by Sunday Silence) when snagging an Aug. 20 maiden over seven furlongs at the Curragh and maintained his perfect record with a battling success in a controversial renewal of Friday's one-mile G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club du Turquie at Saint-Cloud. The eventual winner occupied a slot behind the leaders in third and was safely clear of trouble to his outer when British challenger Captain Wierzba (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire})...

Rashit Shaykhutdinov's homebred 2-year-old filly Gain It (GB) (De Treville {GB}--Gagarina {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) registered a snug one-length tally tackling 6 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud last month and returned to that debut scene of that triumph to claim 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a monster exhibition upped to seven furlongs for Saturday's Prix Amber Rama. Adopting different tactics after a sharp exit and in command throughout, the 7-10 favourite was untroubled in the straight and powered ever clear inside the final quarter mile to easily outclass dual winner Ser Sed...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features the full-sister to Intelligence Cross. 4.10 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BURMESE RUBY (War Front) is a full-sister to the G1 QEII Cup third Sweet Orange and the G3 Round Tower S. winner Intelligence Cross who debuts in the Westerberg silks for the Andre Fabre...

Gemini Stud's Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}--High Heel Sneakers {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) posted a career high in October's G3 Prix de Flore at Saint-Cloud and lined up for Tuesday's G3 Prix Corrida back over the same 10 1/2-furlong distance at the Paris venue returning off a second in April's Listed Prix Lord Seymour at ParisLongchamp. The 5-2 second favourite adopted her usual patient tactics and was positioned off the tempo in fifth for the most part. Nudged along to close with 500 metres remaining, she quickened in...

Fabrice Chappet trainee and 185,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling and $535,000 Ocala April breeze-up graduate Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Onshore {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a dominant performance going one mile at Chantilly in September, but had floundered in two subsequent outings before lining up as a 12-1 chance for Sunday's G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. Second contesting an Oct. 21 Deauville conditions heat in his only other juvenile start, he opened his sophomore campaign with a close-up eighth in ParisLongchamp's Apr. 18...

Juddmonte's unbeaten 3-year-old filly Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) defeated subsequent Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux victrix Singforthemoment (Ire) (No Nay Never) when graduating over ParisLongchamp's one-mile strip in a Sept. 2 debutantes' heat, her sole juvenile outing, and doubled up in style going 10 furlongs on seasonal return with a three-length tally and a career high in Saint-Cloud's Mar. 10 Listed Prix Rose de Mai last time. Upped in trip once more for Saturday's G3 Prix Penelope back at Saint-Cloud, the May 15 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and June...

Juddmonte's hitherto unbeaten 3-year-old filly Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) accounted for subsequent Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux victrix Singforthemoment (Ire) (No Nay Never) when breaking through over one mile contesting a Sept. 2 debutantes' heat at ParisLongchamp in her only prior start and lined up for this stakes bow as the 6-5 favourite. Employing patient tactics in rear until turning for home, the May 15 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and June 19 G1 Prix de Diane entry made smooth headway out wide to challenge with 300 metres remaining and...

Marc Chan's 2-year-old colt Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) backed up a win in Goodwood's July 27 G2 Vintage S. in July with a career high in this month's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp and doubled his elite-level tally with a game victory in Saturday's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. The Listed Pat Eddery S. runner-up had earlier collected wins at Salisbury and Pontefract and, in the absence of late scratching Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), went postward as the 17-10 second choice for the one-mile test. Steadied...

Carlos Laffon-Parias trainee Tumbler (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), a hitherto untested homebred sporting the colours of Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, was eclipsed for favouritism in the betting, but opened up with an impressive daylight rout of five rivals in Thursday's Prix As d'Atout, a seven-furlong heat for unraced 2-year-old colts and geldings, at Saint-Cloud. The 17-5 chance was swiftly into stride and settled into a smooth rhythm racing third, four lengths off the pace, through halfway. Sent wide with the field into the straight, he quickened in taking fashion to sweep...

Lady Bamford's homebred Dreamflight (GB) (Frankel {GB}), one of two contenders from the Andre Fabre stable for Friday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie, placed in starts at Deauville in August and Saint-Cloud last month. Back over the latter venue's one-mile course and distance for his black-type bow, the 18-5 chance would not be denied in a thrilling finish to the card's feature event. He was swiftly into stride and led all four rivals from flagfall. Coming under pressure when tackled by stablemate Chancellery (Ire) (Medaglia d'Oro) with...

His Highness The Aga Khan's 4-year-old filly Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) made light of a seven-month absence to collar Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by a neck in the May 2 G3 Prix Allez France Longines at ParisLongchamp on seasonal return and doubled up on that rival in Wednesday's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud. Her sophomore campaign highlight reel also includes victories in the G2 Prix de Pomone and G3 Prix de Royaumont, as well as a sixth-place effort in last year's G1 Prix de Diane, and she claimed a fourth...