Classic trials and German runners at Saint-Cloud

Easily the best racing of the day takes place at Saint-Cloud, which has 3 listed races on the card, including two early season classic trials. Unfortunately the colts´ race, the Prix Omnium II at 15.50 over a mile, has been weakened by Freddie Head´s decision not to run his 2,000 Guineas hope Naaqoos, as originally intended. This leads the way open for Yves de Nicolay´s Silver Frost (Christophe Soumillon), and the same trainer-jockey combination can also take the fillies´equivalent race, the Prix la Camargo at 14.50, with Soneva. Both she and Silver Frost were group race winners last season and have the beating of their opponents here on 2008 form.

There are no German runnes in the main events, but several on the undercard. Naxon (Werner Baltromei/ Dominique Boeuf) showed signs of coming back to form when runner-up at Marseille last time, but faces tough opposition in the opening tiercé handicap over 1900 metres at 13.50. Nareoin (Baltromei/ Frédéric Spanu) and Blauer Bär (Miroslav Rulec/ Daniele Porcu) both run in the mile race for unraced 3yo´s at 15.20, while Rulec and Porcu also team up with Romantic Man in a claiming race over the same distance at 16.50. While we expect Naxon to run well, the best German hope today is probably Romantic Man, whose last run was in St.Moritz.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Senor Monk - Aragog - Tarpon
2. Race: Chirango - Timos - Stikine
3. Race: Princess Roseburg - Soneva - Rosey De Megeve
4. Race: Effervescent - Reve de Nuit - Vrilissos
5. Race: Accord Secret - Little Dreams - Silver Frost
6. Race: Impressionism - Celebra - Attaches Moi
7. Race: Pauillac - Go Directa - Global Dream
8. Race: Le Martinez - Malneyev - Samala