Group One success for Mario Hofer?

Mario Hofer has his team in tremendous form, especially his two-year-olds (4 group wins in the last month) and hopes are high that King of Sydney (Jean-Pierre Carvalho) can crown his season by winning the Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 2000 metres this afternoon at 15.05 at Saint-Cloud. This is the last Group Obe race of the year in Europe and has attracted a strong international field, but Hofer has already won this race (with Paita in 2004) and possibly King of Sydney can see off the 5 Irish challengers, one British and four locally-trained runners. Aidan O´Brien has given up on his chances of setting a new world record for Group One winners, but is still strongly represented here with 4 runners; on jockey bookings Fame and Glory (Johnny Murtagh) and Age of Aquarius (Seamus Heffernan), both of whom are unbeaten after one easy maiden win, but are taking a big leap in class, are his main candidates. English raider Zafisio (Paul Blockley/ Dominique Boeuf) won here over a mile 2 weeks ago, but this is a stronger field and he was earlier behind King of Sydney. Tracy Collins´ Turin Lady (Pat Shanahan), Criquette Head´s Blaze of Fire (Stephane asquier) and André Fabre´s Feels all Right (Olivier Peslier) also have chances in an open race. There are no fewer than 5 German runners in the 2800 metres claiming race for lady jockeys at 1635: Kaliyan (Hofer/ Katharina Werning), Soterio (Werner Baltromei/ Eve Meutzner), Nasibow (Horst Steinmetz/ Carina Fey), Kasus (Pavel Vovcenko/ Delphine Santiago) and Montirat (Steinmetz/ Manuela Murke), while Baltromei saddles two runners in the 2100 metres handicap for 3yo fillies at 17.05, Genoveva (Frankie Leroy) and Baldoria (Boeuf).

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Wajir - Capellanus - Desertar
2.Race: Bahhariva - Netova - Miss Boogie Woogie
3.Race: Solaria - Damacita - Belle Et Brave
4.Race: Zafisio - Topclas - King Of Sydney
5.Race: Playwithmyheart - Beauvoisin - Dellaside
6.Race: Miss Stream - Royal Bridge - Dingdong
7.Race: Soterio - Loup De Mer - Animateur
8.Race: Graine De Tempete - Rain Esteem - Citydex Du Frene