Exbury day marks the beginning of the French Classic season
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The Prix Exbury (Gr3), Saturday at Saint-Cloud, is the first Group race of the season in France. Open to horses aged 4 and over over 2,000 metres, it is once again competed on heavy ground, but the weather will be out of proportion with last year's snow storm, and the winner Air Pilot (Zamindar). Trained in Britain by Ralph Beckett, this 10-years-old is again ridden by Christophe Soumillon. He got the best rating of the lot ahead of Way to Paris (Champs Elysees), not very convincing last year in the second semester, and Dolphin Vista (Zoffany), also trained by Ralph Beckett and a Listed winner in Scotland in September 2018. He has not run since.
However, the 4-years-old division seems to be very challenging for the old guard.
Sacred Life (Siyouni), who runs for owner Jean-Louis Bouchard, fas accumulated three second places last year at the end of the season. He may have progressed again, just like Magny Cours (pictured, Medaglia d'Oro), who has just completed a very convincing come back for Godolphin but ran only once at 2 as at 3.
The Prix Omnium II (L) and La Camargo (L) mark the beginning of the "classic" route to the French Guineas, only eight weeks away from us ...
Sunday's meeting in Saint-Cloud begins at 2 pm, French time.