Sacred Territory

Saint-Cloud's Sunday card also features the G1 Criterium International, where Jean-Louis Bouchard's unbeaten Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) holds pole position as he bids to provide France with a rare success in one of their major juvenile tests. Electric when successful by six lengths in the Oct. 4 G3 Prix Thomas Bryon over this track and trip, the bargain €10,000 purchase nevertheless faces his toughest assignment and will need to up his game again against a strong overseas challenge.

Aidan O'Brien supplies just one contender here in Evie Stockwell's homebred Threeandfourpence (War Front), who stepped up markedly from his narrow six-furlong maiden success at Fairyhouse Sept. 20 when fourth behind stablemate U S Navy Flag (War Front) in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket Oct. 14, while the British presence is headed by Sultan Ali's Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). He took the Listed Washington Singer S. over this trip at Newbury Aug. 19 before running second to Seahenge (Scat Daddy) in Doncaster's G2 Champagne S. Sept. 16. Trainer James Tate said, “He's in great form. The ground was a bit quick for him in the Dewhurst, so we were looking at the Racing Post Trophy or this and we felt seven furlongs on soft ground would be right up his street, so it's fingers crossed.”

Strictly on his Champagne form, Hey Gaman is very closely matched with Threeandfourpence as Seahenge was narrowly ahead of him when third in the Dewhurst, while he also has the edge over Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). He was second to the Champagne third Mythical Magic (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the Listed Prix Francois Boutin over this distance at Deauville Aug. 13 before getting back to winning ways in a conditions event at Maisons-Laffitte Oct. 6. Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said, “Cascadian has pleased us with each of his performances so far this year. It is a big step up to group 1 level, but we are hoping that he can run another good race.”