Unbeaten Epicuris Dominates at Saint-Cloud
Description:
Juddmonte Farms' front-running Epicuris skipped over the heavy turf at Saint-Cloud Nov. 8 and won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I) with consummate ease.
Thierry Thulliez guided the 2-year-old Rail Link colt to the front from the gate and he comfortably posted a 2 1/2-length triumph from German-based Palang, who chased in vain from three-eighths of a mile out.
The 9-10 favorite in the six-horse field, Epicuris was timed in 2:17.41 for 1 1/4 miles.
Big Blue finished third, just a head behind Palang, after tracking Epicuris from second most of the way while Palang settled at the back of the field. Palang made good progress in the final quarter mile and was shaken up by Cristian Demuro from three-eighths of a mile out. He edged ahead Big Blue, but there was no catching Epicuris, who kept his record perfect in three career starts.
In his previous outing, the big, long-striding Epicuris controlled the pace and defeated Big Blue by 2 1/2 lengths in the Prix de Conde (Fr-III) at about 1 1/8 miles Oct. 19 at Longchamp, with the third place filled by Capo Maximo, who was fifth in Saturday's race.
Trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, Epicuris took his debut by three-quarters of lengths going about a mile Sept. 1 at Longchamp.
"Epicuris is a really good horse and I never had the impression he was going to be beaten. He'll be even better as a 3-year-old," Head-Maarek told England's Press Association.
A Juddmonte homebred, Epicuris is the first starter for his dam, the stakes-placed Observatory mare Argumentative.