THUNDER Snow gained a well-deserved Group 1 success with a dominant performance in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt had some top-notch form in the book after being beaten only by two lengths when fourth to Churchill in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and by a head second to subsequent Group 1 Racing Post Trophy scorer Rivet in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

The Godolphin-owned juvenile backed up those displays in style, bounding clear in the final quarter-mile under Christophe Soumillon to see off Andrew Balding's South Seas by five lengths, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Promise To Be True a length and three-quarters away in third.

There was drama as the field left the stalls when Capchop unseated Pierre-Charles Boudot.

Representative Lisa-Jane Graffard told the Godolphin website: "Christophe was never worried. He reported that Thunder Snow travelled well all the way and handled the ground. It was a very pleasing performance and Saeed bin Suroor, who is in Australia, will be happy. Thunder Snow will be able get a mile next year so it is all very exciting."

Soumillon added: "Thunder Snow, who looked very well, was calm and super relaxed. I think he will be even better over a mile and further."

DERBY CLAIMS

There was also Group 1 success on the card for the Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist when then son of Galileo beat the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Best Solution by a length in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 10 furlongs.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite Capri finished third, just ahead of his stable companions Douglas Macarthur and Taj Mahal.

Waldgeist made a successful debut at Chantilly in September and was third in the Prix de Conde there three weeks ago, but comfortably turned the tables on Frankuus and Prinz Hlodowig, who had finished ahead of him. Jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot was at the colt from some way out, but his perseverance was rewarded as his mount hit top gear in the final furlong after Saeed bin Suroor's Best Solution had kicked for home.

RaceBets introduced Waldgeist at 20-1 for the Derby, while Ladbrokes put him in at 16s.

Fabre, whose sole Epsom success came with Pour Moi in 2011, said: "I was fond of him before and I'm even fonder of him now. He is not short of pace, but the longer distance didn't do him any harm. He is obviously a Derby type. I can see him performing well at the Curragh (in the Irish Derby), but he will be prepared for the Epsom Derby as well."