Grand prix de Saint-Cloud: Way to Paris seizes the day

Sunday, June 28, 2020, Saint-Cloud. - 7-year-old Way to Paris (Champs Elysees) dug deep to prevail in a memorable finish in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1), over 1m4f.

The final furlong was very heated as the front-running Ziyad (Rock of Gibraltar), second in this race last season, was staying on while the Czech raider Nagano Gold (Sixties Icon), whose Christophe Soumillon had driven against the rail, and the favourite Way to Paris, who had come from the rear, as usual, were disputing the lead. In a last effort, for his 5th race of the season already, the latter finally took a neck over a superb Nagano Gold, who beat Ziyad by a mere head …

Owned by Paolo Ferrario, Way to Paris was awarding the trainer Andrea Marcialis a first Group 1 and seems better than ever this season at 7.

Bought for £50,000 as a yearling, this brother of an Italian Group 1 winner began his career in Italy, where he won a Listed at 3 and followed his trainer, Andrea Marcialis, when he moved to France in 2016. Since then, he has consistently got good results over distances varying from 10 to over 12 furlongs. He's had a good run early last year over long trips, culminating in his success in the Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) over 14 furlongs. Well beaten in his last two attempts in 2019 in the Prix du Cadran and the Prix Royal-Oak, he took the sixth place for his return in the Prix Exbury (Gr3), over 10 furlongs at St.Cloud, finished very well in second in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2) and won easily the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2) in Deauville. He more than confirmed in his next run as he finished close to Sottsass over the Prix Ganay (Gr1)’s 10.5 furlongs. Back on a longer distance, he finally seized his Group 1, even though he was keener than usual early on.

He became the 3rd 7-year-old winner of the race, run here for the 112th time.