Desmond Stoneham

SAINT-CLOUD - SUNDAY

1.35 Criterium International (Group 1) 2yo colts and fillies 7f

The race has already been won a record four times by Aidan O’Brien since its conception in 2001 and he has another great chance of adding it again to his laurels. He will be hoping that Promise To Be True can be the first filly to land the now seven-furlong contest and she has plenty in the form book to recommend her. After winning a Group 3 race at Leopardstown, the daughter of Galileo ran fifth on yielding ground in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and behind stablemate Rhododendron, who has since won the Group 1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. On Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day, she was runner-up in the mile Total Prix Marcel Boussac after not a totally clear run in the straight. The English are out in force. Fourth-placed Thunder Snow was over two lengths superior to South Seas in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and Bay Of Poets has been disappointing since winning a maiden on the all-weather at Kempton. The best of the French could be Mate Story. He won the trial for this race when taking the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon over the course and distance. Philippe Sogorb runs two very experienced juveniles. Boos has the better form after her second in the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and Capchop has always been involved in the finish in six outings of which he has won three. Tresorier won a maiden at Maisons-Laffitte and King Of Spades will be performing for the 10th time but was behind Boos last time out.

Selection: PROMISE TO BE TRUE

Next best: Mate Story

2.46 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) 2yo colts and fillies 1m 2f

Aidan O’Brien has also captured this race on four previous occasions but not since 2010. He saddles four colts in this running and Irish hopes are further enhanced by the presence of the David Wachman-trained Rekindling, his final runner as a trainer. There is a big English challenge of five, a single German and just two French runners in the field of 13.

The leading contender from Ballydoyle must be Capri. He landed a hat-trick when beating two stablemates in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh and this longer trip should be to his liking. His three stable companions: Taj Mahal, Wings Of Eagles and Douglas Macarthur - all appear to have more to find in the form book. Rekindling was well beaten by Capri first time out at Galway but has since been rather impressive when making all to win a maiden at Gowran Park. Mark Johnston sends Frankuus back to France where he took the Group 3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly and he will again come up against the French colts Prince Hlodowig and Waldgeist, who were close up in the second and third positions. Best Solution appears to be going the right way and was an easy winner of the Group 3 Dubai 100 Autumn Stakes last time, and Godolphin’s other English challenger, D’bai, was a listed winner at Pontefract earlier in the month. John Gosden relies on Cunco, another Frankel colt, who is held by Frankuus on previous form. The only filly in the race is the Ralph Beckett-trained Rich Legacy. She was a well beaten fourth behind Ballydoyle fillies in the Dubai Fillies’ Mile having earlier run on gamely to capture the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. The German challenger Warring States is difficult to assess but he made a winning debut at Hoppegarten.

Selection: CAPRI

Next best: Waldgeist

3.15 Prix Perth (Group 3) 3yo+ 1m

A competitive mile to end this high-class meeting. John Gosden appears to have a chance with his wife’s Crazy Horse. A Group 3 winner at Newbury a year ago, he was sixth to The Gurkha in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Deauville before a break and a victory at Salisbury earlier this month. The former Irish-trained Steip Amach is likely to take a hand in the finish. She has been Group 1-placed on two occasions and was fifth in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine last month. The Irish-owned and bred Pas De Soucis has been consistent all season and thoroughly deserved her recent listed success at Maisons-Laffitte. Jo Hughes is a frequent visitor to France and she runs Lefortovo who will be running for the fifth time on this side of the Channel this year where he has won two small races. Kourkan is on a hat-trick. He won a listed race at Maisons-Laffitte last time out where he beat last year’s winner of the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Robin Of Navan. He also holds Royal Julius who was fifth to the mighty Almanzor in the Prix du Jockey Club and a recent easy winner at Bordeaux-Le Bouscat. Wanderina had a success in a listed race over the course and distance in September and has never been out of the first four in nine races. Siyoushake won the Group 3 Prix Quincey at Deauville and should again hold Maximum Aurelius and Leader Writer.

Selection: KOURKAN

Next best: Pas De Soucis