Critérium International: Jadoomi looks for higher ground

The uncertainty that reigns over our daily lives in the coming weeks, if not the next few days, has not dissuaded the connections of seven runners to go for the Critérium International (Gr1), rescheduled this year over one mile while the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère / Grand Critérium has been shortened to 7 furlongs.

It is once again the occasion of a fascinating Franco-Anglo-Irish match with, amongst other runners, one of the most impressive winners of the Arc weekend, that is Jadoomi (Holy Roman Emperor) in the Haras de Bouquetôt - Criterium of the Arqana October sales. Owned by Sheik Ahmed al Maktoum, bred in France by the Moratalla estate, Alban Chevalier du Fau and Philippe Henry, trained in Newmarket by Simon Crisford and his son Ed, he left his closest rival at seven lengths in a race worth € 250,000. Now he goes for a black-type label. Also from England comes La Barrosa (Lope de Vega), a colt bought £ 750,000 at the Newmarket yearling sales and trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin. He is unbeaten in two outings and most recently won a Group 3 at Newmarket, beating Dark Lion, who has since been clearly beaten at Chantilly. The best French on paper is Policy Of Truth (Siyouni), a representative of Haras du Logis Saint-Germain who has improved with each of his outings and has just easily beaten Mouillage.

• 1. JADOOMI (c2, FRA by Holy Roman Emperor and South Sister, by Sakhee) Weight: 9-0 / Rating: 101lbs

Trained in England by Simon & Ed Crisford, bought € 750,000 at the Deauville sales, he finished third in both his first and second race in June and July, then won in December on the sand before causing a sensation at ParisLongchamp for his debut over one mile in the Haras de Bouquetôt - Criterium of the Arqana October sales.

• 2. DARKNESS (c2, FRA by Siyouni and Kerila, by Makfi) Weight: 9-0 / Rating: 98lbs

Trained in Deauville by Jean-Claude Rouget, bought € 220,000 at the Deauville sales, he has won three of his five races to date, including one last, in the Critérium de Lyon (L) for his debut over one mile.

• 3. LA BARROSA (c2, IRE by Lope de Vega and Bikini Babe, by Montjeu) Weight: 9-0 / Rating: 105lbs

Trained in England by Charlie Appleby, bought £ 750,000 at the Newmarket sales, he has won his two races to date, including the Tattersalls Stakes (Gr3) on September 24 at Newmarket over one mile, beating a very experienced colt, who lead the race, but then failed completely in the Prix Saraca at Chantilly…

• 4. POLICY OF TRUTH (c2, FRA by Siyouni and Dawn To Dance, by Selkirk) Weight: 9-0 / Rating: 104lbs

Trained in Chantilly by Pia and Joakim Brandt, he was bought for € 34,000 at the Deauville sales. He won easily, and from start to finish, the Prix des Chênes (Gr3), a race of four horses, over one mile at ParisLongchamp.

• 5. VAN GOGH (c2, USA by American Pharoah and Imagine, by Sadler’s Wells) Weight: 9-0 / Rating: 107lbs

Trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, he has already raced six times and only won his maiden on his penultimate outing, before taking second place in the Autumn Stakes (Gr3) at Newmarket, without a clear run. He can surely improve again, still.

• 6. PONNTOS (c2, IRE by Power and Blessing Box, by Bahamian Beauty) Weight: 9-0 / Rating: -

Trained in the Czech Republic by Miroslav Nieslanik, bought € 6,800 at the Irish sales, he has yet to win in three outings, including one in Cologne, where he was seventh in a Group 3 over one mile last time out.

• 7. NORMANDY BRIDGE (c2, FRA by Le Havre et Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk) Weight: 9-0 / Rating: 109lbs

Trained in Deauville by Stéphanie Nigge, bought € 80,000 at the Deauville sales, he was undefeated in two outings, one of which was over the mile of the Prix Thomas Bryon (Gr3), helped by his rider who went on his own along the stands' rail.