Making France more than his second home, having enjoyed all bar one of his career starts across the Channel, Robin of Navan will return triumphant to his Lambourn base once again after garnering a first Group 1 win for him, his trainer Harry Dunlop and jockey Tony Piccone. Sixth on debut over seven furlongs at Kempton June 24, the chestnut opened his account at that distance on his first overseas foray at Compiegne July 19 before finishing runner-up to Joseph Allen's smart George Patton (War Front) over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville Aug. 9. Back at the latter venue to cause an 11-1 upset in the Listed Criterium de FEE tackling a mile Aug. 23, he relished an extra furlong when powering to a comprehensive follow-up success in the G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly Oct. 5 but was only the third choice in the betting here behind TDN Rising Star Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the Conde third Cloth of Stars who was meeting him on better weight terms this time. Sent straight into the lead by Piccone, he was always comfortable there and when asked to extend his advantage at the top of the straight responded in typically game fashion to keep Cloth of Stars safely at bay. “It is very special,” his trainer commented. “He's a horse who has improved throughout the year and to win it like that is very exciting. He has all options open to him, but I would imagine we would be looking at France for him again next year. He has won a lot of money through French premiums and I would like to enter him for the G1 Prix du Jockey Club.” Piccone added, “This is a dream come true. The trainer said to use him early, as he is a straightforward horse and he would kill them if it worked out and he was absolutely right. I had to keep him going, as he is a lazy sort but he traveled and quickened well when asked and he ought to be a really nice 3-year-old next year.”
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €250,000, SCD, 11-1, 2yo, c/f, 10fT, 2:15.46, vsf.
1–&ROBIN OF NAVAN (FR), 126, c, 2, by American Post (GB)
1st Dam: Cloghran (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB)
2nd Dam: The Wise Lady (Fr), by Ganges
3rd Dam: Miller's Lily (Fr), by Miller's Mate (GB)
(€10,000 Ylg '14 AROCT; €47,000 2yo '15 ARMAY). O-Cross, Deal, Foden, Sieff; B-Mme Monique Lepeudry (FR); T-Harry Dunlop; J-Tony Piccone. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, €265,150. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cloth of Stars (Ire), 126, c, 2, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Strawberry Fledge, by Kingmambo. (400,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Peter Anastasiou (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €57,150.
3–Notte Bianca (Fr), 122, f, 2, Kendargent (Fr)–Biancarosa (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). O/B-Teruya Yoshida (FR); T-Satoshi Kobayashi. €28,575.
Margins: 2HF, 3, HD. Odds: 2.70, 2.60, 35.70.
Also Ran: Idaho (Ire), Millfield (Fr), Isfahan (Ger), Ormito (Ger), Indecence Choisie (Fr), Ocean Jive (GB), Gontchar (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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