Saint Baudolino shortens for Arc
Owned by Godolphin and trained by Andre Fabre, Saint Baudolino was well fancied after finishing second in the French Derby and third in the Grand Prix de Paris on his last two outings.
He was settled in fourth on the heels of stablemate Aesop’s Fables early on by Maxime Guyon as Kirsty Milczarek set the early pace on Rewarded.
William Buick raced upsides that pair on Starboard and the duo were still at the head of affairs turning for home in the 10-furlong contest.
Three furlongs out they kicked on again and put clear daylight between the rest of the field.
However, Guyon only had to give the signal and Saint Baudolino demonstrated an impressive change of gear to sweep to the head of affairs a furlong out.
The result was never in doubt once he hit the front and Aesop’s Fables and Ashkiyr fought out the minor places in a photo finish.
Coral were suitably impressed with Saint Baudolino’s performance and make him a 14-1 chance from 20-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Ladbrokes are slightly more generous and offer 16-1 about his chances of glory in the autumn feature.
Sarkiyla claimed the Prix de Lieurey as the William Haggas-trained Arsaadi finished out of the places in the Group Three mile event.
Arsaadi had been bustled up to take an early lead by Buick but was passed at the three-furlong marker as Freddie Head’s Dream Clover moved smoothly to the front. That advantage lasted until the furlong pole when the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Sarkiyla and Christophe Lemaire took it up but Foreign Tune finished fast and only just failed.
Ed Walker was on target earlier on the card as Faithfilly claimed the Listed Prix de la Vallee D’Auge.
