1 July 2018
Photo scoopdyga.com
Waldgeist (Galileo) continues to increasingly look the part as regards being a serious contender for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). After a dazzling win in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr 2), the protégé of André Fabre prevailed after a fight in today’s {Sunday, July 1} Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1). Despite the torrid heat, Waldgeist and the British filly Coronet (Dubawi), became embroiled in a struggle in which no quarter was asked or given in the Group 1 event. The photo later revealed that the colt had won the day by a nose.
Dietrich Von Boetticher, the joint owner of Waldgeist, said: «He was given a peach of a ride by Pierre-Charles Boudot. He’s a first rate jockey and the horse is good too! The horse has matured a lot and has reached maturity. We have an open mind as to his future programme. All options are possible and his trainer will decide the next step. »
The last horse to complete the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe double was Helissio in 1996 – at a time when the former race was still open to the three-year-old division.
John Gosden, trainer of Coronet, said: “She ran a super, super race. They do a very good job with the track here when you get a heatwave whereas the Curragh is a huge open space and impossible to get right. She wasn’t happy there in the Irish Oaks. She has come here and run a blinder. I think they went a little leisurely, the pace, with a bunched finish but I don’t think going a stride faster would have changed the result. She has run great and we’ll see where we go. There’s the Yorkshire Oaks , the Nassau if it rains and then there’s the Champions’ Filly and Mares at Ascot. We nearly pulled it off.”
The bookmakers reacted to the win by cutting Waldgeist’s odds for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He rates a 16/1 chance in an antepost market which continues to be dominated by Enable (Nathaniel), Cracksman (Frankel) and Masar (New Approach). Enable has yet to see a racecourse this year whereas Cracksman is coming off a Royal Ascot defeat. The Derby winning Masar has been earmarked for a crack at the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday {July 7}.