Pretty bouquets on lilies' day

The field of eight runners gathered in the Prix du Muguet (Gr2) on Wednesday, May 1st at Saint-Cloud over a mile, is worth a Group 1. Two have already won at the highest level, namely the 4yrs filly Polydream (Oasis Dream), winner last summer of the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1) at Deauville, and Olmedo (Declaration of War), winner almost a year ago of the French One Thousand Guineas (Gr1). Both will make their comeback on this occasion against first-class rivals such as the talented Mer Et Nuages (Lope de Vega), the English raider Ostilio (New Approach), winner of the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Gr2) at the Arc weekend in 2018, Tornibush (Dream Ahead), owned by football striker and World Champion Antoine Griezmann, winner last year of the Qatar Prix du Pin (Gr3), all opposed by the serious contenders that are Graphite (Shamardal), Plumatic (Dubawi) and Geniale (Deep Impact).

The next classics will be in everyone's mind as the Prix Greffulhe (Gr2) for colts and the Prix Pénélope (Gr3) for fillies will also unfold. Both these races lead to the French Derby and the French Oaks, run over the same distance of 2,100m/10 1/2f.

For most of the 5 runners confirmed in those races, it will be the first test in a Group race and we will learn a lot from their performance. The last three winners of the Prix Greffulhe, Cloth of Stars, Recoletos and Study of Man, have since become champions in their promotion. Recent winners of the Prix Pénélope include Sistercharlie, who has become a champion across the Atlantic after taking second place in the Prix de Diane, or Waldlerche, future dam of Waldgeist, last winner of the Prix Ganay, Sunday at ParisLongchamp.