Group One Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud Preview 2022

The feature race of the afternoon on Sunday is the Group One Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud in France with nine going to post and we have picked out a win selection.

A superb son of Frankel for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin who had a blistering three year old Campaign last term winning the Dante Stakes at York before finishing third in the Derby when losing a shoe.

He then put things right when getting up late in the day in the Irish Derby to land his first Group One and he kicked on from there taking the Grand Prix De Paris at Longchamp and then up in trip winning the St Leger in breathtaking style.

Last seen in 2021 in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe finishing a valiant third behind shock German winner Torquator Tasso and Tarnawa.

Back for his first run of this season at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes, from his build he looked to need the run and it was proved so when only third behind Broome and Mostahdaf.

He holds the best form by a country mile in this field and if fully wound up could take the beating, but he will have needed to have improved from his Ascot run.

Andre Fabre’s charge started life racing as a 3 year old and got off the mark at the first time of trying.

After his initial success he moved up to listed company but struggled with a lack of experience behind him, only beating three rivals home. Dropped back in grade off the back of that saw him gain a couple more successes before again finding listed level too taxing.

He’s returned in smart form as a 4 year old and has won both races this season. Scoring a low level event before finally sealing his elusive listed win. This is another stark step up in grade and he’ll have to improve again to be competitive against a deep looking field.

After breaking his maiden last season over 10 furlongs, Third Realm managed to scalp the eventual Derby winner Adayar in the Derby trial at Lingfield.

He then struggled for form after that win. Coming 5th in the Derby itself and then struggling in lower grade events off the back of that. Being beaten in a group 3 and a brace of group 2 races.

His return over 12 furlongs saw him shape well enough in listed company to be 3rd behind Al Aasy and he built upon that to win easily last time out at listed level at Goodwood.

He looks in decent form but has struggled in higher quality races before so faces a question mark over how effective he can be in this company.

His two year old victories teed him up as an early favourite for the 2021 Derby. However he was brushed aside by Hurricane Lane in the Dante Stakes and again in the Irish Derby.

His form dramatically tailed off for the rest of the season and he failed to show the promise he showed as a 2 year old. Failing to win for the entirety of his classic season.

He’s been unable to win this season too but has been in much better form. A close 2nd on comeback over 10 furlongs and a narrow defeat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup showed he was in fine fettle. He looked outclassed over a mile and a half in the Coronation Cup behind Hukum. He’s looked better over a shorter trip.

After scoring a maiden over in Germany, Mare Australis moved over to France to the care of Andre Fabre. Despite not hitting the ground running he did score on listed level on his second outing for new connections.

He took his form to new heights last season despite only being seen twice. Coming a close 2nd in group 2 company, he captured group 1 honours before being put away for the season.

He didn’t return in the same form however and didn’t fare as well in the same two races he contested last season. Until moving up to 12 furlongs last time out drew out some further improvement and he scored a group 2 with bundles in hand. There’s likely more to come over a mile and a half from this 5 year old.

A strong juvenile season saw Lone Eagle score in novice company and handicap company before making the transition to group company on his last outing of the season.

Scoring a group 3 as a 2 year old, he returned in fine form last season to score a listed win and went agonisingly close in the Irish Derby behind Hurricane Lane next time out. Unable to live with Adayar in the King George he was put away for the season and returned at Goodwood in May.

Sent off a short priced favourite for a listed race, he looked in desperate need for his first run for over 300 days and weakened into 3rd behind Third Realm. He needs to improve upon his most recent outing but showed form last season to suggest he can be effective in this grade.

Tried over a variety of trips, Sweet Lady found success as a 2 year old over a mile and scored handily in listed company over the same trip.

Moved up in grade off the back of that she struggled over a mile in deeper waters and even a move up to 10 furlongs didn’t draw out improvement. Despite running well in the Prix de Diane.

She did score against her own sex in a group 3 at the end of the season and returned in good form this year. Going close behind Baratti in a listed race over a mile and a half before winning a group 2 over 10.5 furlongs last time out. Twelve furlongs looks like it suits but she’ll have to prove she has the class against this opposition.

A highly talented mare for Sir Mark Prescott. It took her a while to find her feet in racing but she finally scored in a listed race over 10 furlongs.

Moved up in grade and trip off the back of that she was the best of the rest behind Love in the 2020 Yorkshire Oaks and filled the same spot behind Antonia De Vega in a group 3.

Last season saw her return invincible. Winning all five of her outings and picking up group victories easily. Winning a listed race at Goodwood, the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock before moving over to Germany.

Winning three group 1 races in Germany over 12 furlongs with relative ease. She’s not been seen since November but has won fresh before. There’s no reason why she can’t regain the winning thread.

Trained over in France, Bubble Gift only broke his maiden last season on his third attempt. Relishing a step up to 12 furlongs, he then managed to make the move up to group company to score over 11 furlongs.

With a group 2 in the booked he was doped in grade but just failed to defy a penalty for his group success. Then proving no match for Hurricane Lane in the Grand Prix De Paris.

He did round off the season with a close group 2 win, but has struggled for form since. Coming 8th in the Arc and then lacking form this season. Coming 4th on reappearance and then being beaten by Mare Australis last time out. He looks held on form with opposing rivals here.