The 1m2f fillies’ maiden at Saint-Cloud is a really interesting contest, won in 2019 by Wonderful Tonight, and David Menuisier bids to win the race again this year with Ottilien, who has strong claims on the back of a very good run at Fontainebleau last time. The yard have struggled in recent months in the UK (1-55 since beginning September), but their French runners have been going well, with two winners in recent weeks.
There are a couple of interesting fillies in opposition. I think Avenue Niel will take a step forwards – she looked in need of the experience at Longchamp on debut, but finished off her race well under a considerate ride and follows the same route to this race as her stablemate Dary Ci did last year (who finished runner-up and went on to get black-type this year).
However, the bet is Tres Rock Women. The race in which she finished third at Nancy was nothing special (though the runner-up has won since), but the 7f would have been wholly inadequate on pedigree and it’s fair to say she didn’t have the best of trips through the race, before finishing off really nicely.
The step up to this trip is sure to suit, and this daughter of Australia is out of Tres Rock Glory, a Listed winner over 1m4f and whose five black-type siblings (including Group 1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Tres Blue) all stayed very well.
A €190,000 yearling purchase, she has the scope and pedigree to suggest there is plenty of improvement to come, her yard has been among the winners in France in recent weeks and she looks a fair each-way bet.
11.30am Saint-Cloud – 1pt win, 0.5pt place Tres Rock Women @ 8-1 (all firms)
Later on the card, I like the chances of Ever Pink, who looks overpriced.
A 7f winner on heavy ground on her debut last August (beating a good field that included two subsequent black-type performers), she wasn’t discredited in two subsequent starts at Listed/Group level last term.
Things haven’t gone to plan this year, but three of her four starts have come on the All-Weather, and on the other occasion, back from six months off at Chantilly last month and running off a mark of 38, she had a rough race and is a bit better than the form suggests.
She really has conditions to suit here, the drop back in trip looks a good move, it is very much a drop in grade and the claim of Arthur Mosse, who rode a winner for the yard at Chantilly late last month, means she gets plenty of weight from all of her rivals. The Carlos Laffon-Parias team is finishing off the season in fantastic form, which is another boost to her chances.
1.12pm Saint-Cloud – 2pts win Ever Pink @ 9/2 (various)
