Godolphin rules Saint-Cloud!

Monday, May 1st, Saint-Cloud Racecourse. - Cloth of Stars (Sea the Stars, pictured above) won for the third time this season for his fourth attempt at Gr1 level in the Prix Ganay (Gr1), the first top-level event of the 2017 season, on Monday at Saint-Cloud. The André Fabre-trained colt finished 2nd in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud two years ago on this same track, was 8th in the 2016 Epsom Derby, and 3rd in last year's Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris. Even though he was heavily favoured to break his Gr1 duck on Monday, Mickael Barzalona had to push him all the way to hold off a fast finishing Zarak (Dubawi). The regally-bred  -mum's name is Zarkava- Aga Khan representative was only returning after his second place in the Dubai Turf (Gr1) in Meydan. Third-placed Silverwave (Silver Frost) concluded well with Erupt (Dubawi), only beaten a head for third place.
Godolphin stable also welcomed the first win of Jimmy Two Times (Kendargent) under its banner, as the grey miler passed from Haras de Saint-Pair to the Dubai behemoth after his convincing return over the mile in the Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr3). Trained by Andre Fabre, Jimmy Two Times scored in style in the Prix du Muguet (Gr2), holding off a fast finishing Kourkan (American Post) to the line.
Godolphin also saw its royal blue silks win over the Prix de l'Avre (3yo, L) 1m4f trip with British raider Wolf Country (Dubawi), trained by Charlie Appleby.
The Saint-Cloud crowd witnessed the rise of a potential star in the making as Straight Shooter (Frankel) demolished the field in the Prix Pas de Deux 3yo beginners race. Trained by André Fabre, he was purchased €400,000 as a yearling at Arqana by Mayfair Speculators, an association of South African investors led by Markus Jooste. Jooste is a regular visitor to France since his furniture company Steinhoff now owns home furnishings retail chain Conforama, the new sponsor of the French Premier League!