By Tom Frary
This particular October weekend is so important when it comes to next year's Classics and Aidan O'Brien has simply dominated it in 2025 with Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) bringing up a Sunday Group 1 double at Saint-Cloud and a third overall following the previous day's action at Doncaster.
Sent off the 7-10 favourite for the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud, the impressive Zetland winner travelled easily for Christophe Soumillon tracking the early pace and when sent on inside the two opened up to score with authority by two lengths from the Donnacha O'Brien-trained A Boy Named Susie (Starspangledbanner). The Wertheimers' Proof (Dubawi) was a neck away in third.
“Wayne absolutely loved him at Dundalk and Christophe was raving about him last time and this was about giving him more education on that ground,” O'Brien said after greeting his 25th Group 1 winner in 2025, leaving him just three short of his previous record. “He's a very special horse, I'd say. He's a typical Camelot, he's classy and he stays.”
“He's very exciting, as he's big and rangy and a beautiful horse with a long stride and a beautiful mind,” he added of the son of the Nassau winner Sultanina (New Approach). “He's a Derby horse and he'll go to the trials next year. All he should do is get better, so he's very exciting for next year.”
Soumillon has enjoyed a boom period in Ryan Moore's absence and, given the sheer amount of Classic candidates the stable has for next season is sure to be involved in the spring and summer too. He confessed to having a soft spot for the winner. “I really love him,” he declared. “The way he did it last time was quite impressive and he gave me a great feel again–I'm sure he's going to be a great horse for next season.”
“Today was the first time for him to go in different ground and although Camelots usually love soft, it's still a new experience in a strong field,” he added. “I rode him a bit different to last time, the pace was on with Wayne [Lordan] in front and my horse was really relaxed. I just wanted to make sure it didn't turn into a sprint, so I put him in the race quite early.”
Epsom is the obvious focus for the winner, who joins the stable's dominant Futurity Trophy trio in the mix for next June's blue riband and as far as the demands of that ultimate test are concerned, Soumillon has no concerns. “He's well-balanced, he goes left-handed well and he's still green and still has a lot of potential,” he said. “When I asked him to pick up, like Puerto Rico I was able to win with just hands and heels and I'm sure if I asked him for more he would give more.”
A touch of star quality about this! 🌟
Pierre Bonnard proves much to good in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud! 🏆🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/fmX95bU1vh
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Pierre Bonnard's aforementioned dam Sultanina, who also captured the G3 Pinnacle Stakes over a mile and a half, is also responsible for the recent Park Hill Stakes third Crepe Suzette (Saxon Warrior). Sold for just 78,000gns at the 2022 Tattersalls December, her yearling filly by Coulsty was a €200,000 purchase by Amo Racing at last month's Goffs Orby Book 1.
The winner shares his Listed Lupe Stakes-winning second dam Soft Centre (Zafonic) with the Del Mar Oaks, Gamely and American Oaks heroine Anisette (Awtaad). The third dam is the G2 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up Foodbroker Fancy (Halling), producer of the GIII Long Island Handicap winner Dalvina (Grand Lodge) and the Listed scorer French Dressing (Sea The Stars) who is in turn the dam of the G3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Mohaafeth (Frankel).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
