Saint-Cloud Hosts Last French Juvenile Group 1s of 2020

Godolphin is seeking a third win in the past four runnings of the Criterium International (G1) at Saint-Cloud, the first of two final major juvenile contests of the French season staged at the Paris track. La Barrosa (IRE) heads a seven-strong field for the mile contest Oct. 24, usually staged at ParisLongchamp, which Sheikh Mohammed's organization has farmed with the likes of Thunder Snow. Trained by Charlie Appleby, La Barrosa races over a mile for the first time after two victories over seven furlongs, latterly when getting up late to land the Tattersalls Stakes (G3) at Newmarket last month. Appleby said: "La Barrosa is stepping up to a mile for the first time, which we feel will suit. I'm confident that he will cope with the ground, and he brings a nice profile going into the race, having won both his starts to date." Fellow British-trained entry Jadoomi (FR) does not yet have group form in the book but is improving and has won his past two races, most recently when sauntering home over this trip in a sales race at Longchamp. His joint-trainer Ed Crisford said of the French-bred: "Jadoomi was most impressive when winning a sales race by seven lengths at Longchamp last time, which was on heavy ground, so he should have no problem with the surface. He's up in class all right, but he worked very nicely last Tuesday and we couldn't be happier with him." Aidan O'Brien also has a good record in this and is out for more with Van Gogh, who was last seen chasing home One Ruler in the Autumn Stakes (G3) at Newmarket. The three-runner home defense is headed by Policy of Truth (FR), the winner of a group 3 at ParisLongchamp last time, and the unbeaten Normandy Bridge (FR). Stéphanie Nigge, the trainer of the latter, said: "He needs to learn to be in among horses, and with foreign runners used to running over 1,400 meters, I expect there to be pace on. It's a group 1, but it's also part of his education for next year." Later, there are also two British and one Irish representative in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1), including Belloccio (FR), trained by David Menuisier. The son of Belardo won on his debut in a mile novice at Salisbury this month and takes on seven rivals, including the Mark Johnston-trained Gear Up (IRE) in the stamina test that was won by subsequent Arc winner Waldgeist in 2016. Menuisier said: "These Belardos seem to handle heavy ground, so I'm very much looking forward to running him. He's short on experience but has plenty of stamina on his dam's side, so hopefully he can be bang there." Of the others, Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) represents Aidan O'Brien, and the prolific Tiger Tanaka (IRE) figures among the home defense. Charley Rossi, the trainer of the latter, said: "Obviously, the step up in trip is a question mark, but I think she'll stay. She's so tough and has come out of the Marcel Boussac (G1) in great shape. I've rarely seen a filly recover that quickly."