Group One win for O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien's Jan Vermeer made every yard of the running to provide Ballydoyle with yet another juvenile Group One victory in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud today.
The stable second-string on jockey bookings as Johnny Murtagh picked Midas Touch, the lightly-raced Montjeu colt streaked away inside the final quarter of a mile to come home in isolation.
Most of the pre-race attention was focused on Rosanara, winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac, but Alain de Royer-Dupre's filly never looked like winning at any stage.
Prizefighting, reappearing only six days after making a winning debut at Kempton, ran well for a long way for John Gosden but it was Godolphin's Emerald Commander who came home a creditable second, albeit well held behind the Colm O'Donoghue-ridden winner.
O'Brien had already won the Dewhurst with Beethoven and the Racing Post Trophy with St Nicholas Abbey, and the winner is now 10-1 second-favourite behind the latter for the Derby with Ladbrokes.
Spokesman David Williams said: "Jan Vermeer's win in France certainly wasn't in the script, but such was the authority of his victory he's well worthy of a Derby quote.
"He put a smart looking field to the sword."
Roger Curtis' Zafisio led home a British one-two as he beat Border Patrol in the Prix Perth.
Winner of the Criterium International on the same card last year when trained by Paul Blockley, the three-year-old relished the soft underfoot conditions.
Never far from the pace, Dominique Boeuf bagged the stands rail and took up the running a furlong out.
Roger Charlton's Border Patrol laid down a challenge but never looked like getting on terms but held off Freddie Head's Racinger for second. Gosden's Expresso Star, the Lincoln winner, was unplaced.
A delighted Curtis said: "That was excellent, we're very pleased.
"It was soft ground. The horse has been in great nick, he just needs to have a decent cut in the ground.
"When he was beaten last time by Border Patrol at the Curragh it was sticky, just a bit tacky. But when he can really get into the ground he's a top-class performer.
"He quite likes Saint-Cloud and he quite likes Dominique Boeuf.
"He could run in a couple of weeks' time at Stuttgart over a mile and a quarter. I always thought he'd be better over that distance but looking at it today he certainly didn't need it.
"Stuttgart was going to be his back-up race in case he didn't go to Saint-Cloud, but he'll probably go there as well now.
"He's done the travelling this year but not done much racing."
