Critérium de Saint-Cloud Report: Gear Up stands up
Photo scoopdyga.com
Saturday, 24 October 2020, Saint-Cloud. - After a “classic” trip in rows by two, the outcome of the 106th edition of the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) remained uncertain for a long time, the English outsider Gear Up (Teofilo) finally showing himself to be the most determined to take definitely the upper hand in the last furlong after leading from the start. Trained by Mark Johnston, he beat a progressive and threatening Botanik (Golden Horn) by a short neck, while at almost two lengths, the favourite Makaloun (Bated Breath), who didn't look as easy as usual between horses after a long wait, has nabbed third place from a good Tiger Tanaka (Clodovil).
Purchased € 52,000 at the Irish sales, Gear Up won his maiden race and the Acomb Stakes (Gr3) at the York meeting before taking the fourth place in the Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr2) over one mile at Newmarket.
Gear Up's full brother was just sold for £ 325,000 to the Hong Kong Jockey Club at the Newmarket sales. It should be noted that both were bred by Irish trainer Jim Bolger, like Mac Swiney, whom he saddled himself to win the Doncaster Futurity Trophy (Gr1) on Saturday ...