Top Breeders' Cup Jockey Wins GI in France

Last weekend's Racing Post Trophy (Eng-I) runner-up Johannes Vermeer made a quick turnaround Nov. 1 in France with Ryan Moore aboard, winning the Criterium International (Fr-I) by head at Saint-Cloud.

 

The race was one of two group I events, both for juvenile colts and fillies, on Sunday's card at the French racecourse. One race earlier, Robin of Navan provided Harry Dunlop his first elite-level success in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

 

The juvenile son of Galileo, a classic prospect for next spring, was guided to his first top-level success by Moore, after the jockey rode two winners and two runners-up at the Breeders' Cup Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland, and landed the Bill Shoemaker Award for the event's outstanding jockey.

 

Johannes Vermeer held back a relentless challenge from runner-up Stormy Antarctic, a 30-1 shot, finishing the Criterium International's 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) in 1:30.15 on very soft turf. 

 

Prix La Rochette (Fr-II) victor Attendu finished third, and favorite Donjuan Triumphant, winner of the Criterium de Maisons Laffitte (Fr-I) Oct. 16, never threatened, finishing fourth in the eight-horse field.

 

Johannes Vermeer, trained by Aidan O'Brien for Coolmore and partners and Malaysian architect Teo Ah Khing, has a 3-1-1 record from six career outings that includes a fourth in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Grand Criterium (Fr-I) Oct. 4 at Longchamp.

 

"He ran very well in the Lagardere," Moore told Racing Post about Johannes Vermeer, who is out of the winning Holy Roman Emperor mare Inca Princess. "He was only beaten a length and he got a bit tight for room that day, and the ground was just quick enough for him.

 

"He ran very well at Doncaster last week and he is a very fit, hard horse who knew his job. He has a good attitude and hopefully he can keep on progressing."

 

Johannes Vermeer, bred in Ireland Desert Star Phoenix Jvc, was sold at the 2014 Goffs Orby sale to BBA Ireland for €300,000 ($330,270) in the Premier Consignment.

 

British-trained Robin of Navan, who has done the majority of his racing in France, snatched the lead soon after the start in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and won comfortably by 2 1/2 lengths. 

 

With Tony Piccone riding for Dunlop, Robin of Navan bested nine rivals, including Godolphin's runner-up Cloth of Stars, in covering 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 2:15.46. 

 

Teruya Yoshida's Notte Bianca came in third, three lengths back, and Coolmore and partners' favored maiden winner Idaho finished fourth. 

 

An Arqana May 2-year-old in training purchase for €47,000 ($52,649) by Anthony Stroud Bloodstock, Robin of Navan has raced exclusively in France after finishing sixth on debut at Kempton June 24. He broke his maiden at Compiegne next out in July, and since has won a stakes at Deauville in August and the Prix de Conde (Fr-III) Oct. 5 at Chantilly. He is a prospect for the 2016 Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I, French Derby).

 

Raced by a partnership, he is by American Post out of Cloghran, by Muhtathir. Because of his French breeding, the colt is likely to continue racing in France, Dunlop told England's Press Association. 

 

"We'll probably look at a French Derby trial and then aim for the Prix du Jockey Club if all goes well, or even one of the mile-and-a-half races like the Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I)," Dunlop said.