'Big-hearted' Wonderment brings joy to Clement as Norway disappoints

Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Group 1)2yo colts & fillies | 1m2f

Wonderment became the first filly in 14 years to strike in this end-of-season highlight after coming with a sustained run under Stephane Pasquier to run down Sydney Opera House and Fox Tal.

For much of the home straight it looked as if the Andrew Balding-trained Fox Tal would prevail after taking over from the free-running Norway.

Mickael Barzalona then looked to have conjured a winning run from Sydney Opera House but Aidan O'Brien's supposed second string was only in front for a matter of strides before Wonderment came to claim her.

Winning trainer Nicolas Clement recently took over the presidency of the trainers' association and was striking a blow for the country's much-maligned two-year-olds, although he was quick to point out the international nature of Wonderment's success.

"She worked really well at the start of the week which gave us the green light for Saint-Cloud, even at the point when there were still plenty of entries," said Clement. "She stays well and has a heart as big as herself albeit she is not that big. It's my first Group 1 since Style Vendome so it's a joyful occasion."

Nicolas Clement was celebrating after Wonderment gave him a first Group 1 winner since Style Vendome's success in the 2013 Poule d'Essai des PoulainsCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Wonderment was certainly bred for this race, being from the same German family as 2016 winner Waldgeist and was bought at Arqana by Clement's partner Tina Rau.

Coolmore missed out on adding to their success in the race – though Wonderment is by their stallion Camelot – but Mickael Barzalona believes Sydney Opera House could have a bright future next year.

"I think he's run to a high level and has at least reproduced his run when finishing second in a Group 2," said Barzalona. "He has plenty of stamina and is gradually learning his job."

Norway was three lengths adrift of the principals in fourth and Seamie Heffernan's simple summation afterwards was that he was "not good enough."

Fox Tal was sent off an unconsidered 33-1 chance but ran a fine race to be beaten just a neck and three quarters of a length in third.

"I'm delighted with him and he will be a better horse next year, perhaps one for the Jockey Club," said rider Ioritz Mendizabal.

Klassique goes down fighting for Haggas

William Haggas sent three horses to contest the trio of Group 3 races that formed a strong undercard and Klassique certainly fulfilled her mission when just run out of it late on by the Andre Fabre-trained Bartaba in the Prix Belle de Nuit over 1m6f.

Maureen Haggas said: "She’s run really well. It wasn’t ideal to make the running but there was no pace and Stephane [Pasquier] found himself in front. She travelled really well and I don’t know whether she didn’t quite stay or if she was still very green. I think with a good winter on her back she might be a nice filly next year."

A Deep Impact full sister to Wertheimer et Frere's Akihiro – a Group 3 winner in France and now racing in Hong Kong under the name Stimulation – Bartaba was well adrift of Brundtland in the Prix Chaudenay when last seen.

"In the Chaudenay she left us wanting a bit more, having been a long way back before finishing her race well," said Wertheimer racing manager, Pierre-Yves Bureau. "It is fantastic to win at Group level given her pedigree and she fought all the way to the line."

Fabre was also successful when Ligne D'Or held off the challenge of Shahnaza to score in the Prix de Flore over a mile and a quarter, with the Henry Candy-trained Queen Of Time posting a career-best performance in third.

And there was a shock in the Prix Perth when Mendizabal threaded the German-trained Auenperle up the rail to down the Godolphin pair Graphite and Wootton at odds of 25-1.

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