Spanish Moon (pink cap) pulling clear of Alpine Rose to win

  PICTURE: APRH  

Spanish Moon lands Saint-Cloud showpiece

Report: France, Sunday
Saint-Cloud, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) 1m4f, turf, 4yo+

SPANISH MOON, banned from racing in Britain for six months owing to his aversion to the stalls, just about consented to enter the gate in France on Sunday - and it was just as well that he did, because he went on to record his first Group 1 victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Awkward customer he may be, but the Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old is now 25-1 with Ladbrokes for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after scoring by a length and half overAlpine Rose for an 8-1 success under Ryan Moore.

Youmzain, looking for back-to-back victories, was the same distance back in third, with Curtain Call close up in fourth.

Banned until November in Britain after failing to load before the Jockey Club Stakes, Spanish Moon was mulish again at Saint-Cloud before going in after a slap with the long tom.

He wasn't alone in playing up, as fellow British visitor Scintillo also delayed proceedings before finishing unplaced.

It was more straightforward after the gates opened for Ryan Moore, who settled Spanish Moon in fourth as Youmzain's pacemaker Dream Desert took the field along.

Sir Michael Stoute: last won race in 2007

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

Although always-prominent Alpine Rose looked to be cruising coming into the straight, she could not answer Spanish Moon's attack a furlong and a half out,although she kept on well enough to hold Youmzain.

Stoute, winning the Grand Prix for the third time in six years, paid tribute to the French officials.

"I want to first thank the stewards, the handlers and the starter for being patient with the horse," he said. "They were magnificent."

"He is a serious horse as he showed when running a close second the Sheema Classic in Dubai," added the trainer. "He is in the Arc de Triomphe and that race will certainly be taken into consideration later in the year."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, also mentioned the Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park as a possible target for the son of El Prado.

Moore appeared at a loss to explain Spanish Moon's pre-race antics.

"He is as good as gold at home and he always goes into the stalls but when he has horses around him at the track he becomes a little funny," he explained. "But the handlers were excellent and he gives his all in his races."

The progressive Alpine Rose will now be aimed at the Prix Vermeille and Prix de l'Opera, while Youmzain remains on target for the King George after staying on at one pace under new rider Christophe Soumillon..

"He has run his race and there were no real excuses but he was a little out of his ground," said Mick Channon.

Soumillon, added: "I followed the eventual winner but in the final straight he was incapable of regaining ground, and actually even weakened in the last few metres.

"Maybe he hasn't recovered fromhis run in the Coronation Cup at Epsom."

Mid-division for much of the race in the hands of Christophe Lemaire, the Luca Cumani-trained Curtain Call was putting in his best work at the finish. "We were pleased considering it wasn't his perfect ground," said Cumani, who is looking at the Royal Whip Stakes at The Curragh on August 15.

"He was not disgraced in this class of race and was not beaten far. We will now be looking at a race in Ireland in August and our choices will be governed by the ground."