I’m a sucker for a Henk Grewe-trained raider in France and despite some stiff competition at Saint-Cloud today (12.50pm) in what looks a really warm maiden, I’m backing Great Rotation.
The son of Siyouni completely fluffed the start at Deauville on debut and didn’t have the best of trips through the race, but he showed considerable ability to finish third that day and he can be expected to come on plenty for the run.
He faces some really well-bred opposition today, but himself boasts a pedigree that suggests he could well go on to better things. He is the third foal of Global Wand, who was Listed-placed in Germany and has six black-type siblings.
The top two in the market, Blue Boat and Dreamflight, are both sons of Frankel and hold obvious claims, having finished second and third (Dreamflight 4L behind) on debut at Deauville. However, it is interesting that Grewe sends Great Rotation to take them on, as he had the fourth in that maiden (beaten a short-head by Dreamflight), who was also entered in this. The plan is to run in the sales race on Arc day if Great Rotation runs a big race here.
12.50pm Saint-Cloud – 1pt each-way Great Rotation @ 6-1 (all firms)
She has to leave behind a couple of quieter efforts, but Queen’s Harlequin showed a lot of promise when fourth on her debut over 7f here in June and on that form alone, a mark of 32.5 is well within her compass.
She kept on well in the closing stages that day in a race won (albeit easily) by subsequent Group 3 winner Acer Alley, while Red Smile finished second and is now rated 42 (92 UK). Though she has run below that level in two starts since, she wasn’t knocked around at Compiegne in July and had little chance from off the pace at Moulins last time.
The step up in trip to a mile will suit on pedigree and Nicolas Clement’s team tend to do well here. Though it has no bearing on this, it is interesting to note that Queen’s Harlequin’s dam was runner-up on her nursery debut over this CD in 2009 on her first start for Nicolas Clement. Hopefully Queen’s Harlequin can go one better, 12 years on!
1.58pm Saint-Cloud – 1pt win Queen’s Harlequin @ 16-1 (all firms)
