Marie-Francoise Sunday Selections for 26th October 2025
Marie-Francoise Sunday Selections from Saint-Cloud
Prix Belle de Nuit (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 11.26
Kiamba
I think that it might be Kiamba that will win the Prix Belle de Nuit, if she can be as good as in the Prix de Royallieu last timenon? That was a very very good run in that Fillies & Mares Group One, and this trip and the soft ground will be good for her, and maybe she will be too strong for the raider from Angleterre, Ralph Beckett’s Allonsy. Francis-Henri Graffard’s Calamandra is also on my list, but the Irish filly, La Isla Mujeres can be the one to look out for. Oui, I will stay with Kiamba on her home soil, but La Isla Mujeres can be the dangerous one.
Prix Perth (Group 3) 11.58
Vertbois
Maybe the Prix Perth can go to Andre Fabre’s Vertbois, though this drop in the grade means Exxtra must be on my list also. D’accord, but Vertbois was only a length behind Dreamliner when I gave him for the Prix Quincey, and that is the good form to bring here, with this soft ground just right. Carlos & Yann Lerners’ Exxtra was last seen in the Prix de la Foret on the weekend of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so this is the lesser plate than that Group One, but he may need to improve again to beat Vertbois. Ed Bethell’s raider from Angleterre has only run once this year, but won a Listed race at Redcar, so can be my each way pick, but Vertbois I will follow to win.
Criterium International (Group 1) 12.30
Puerto Rico (nap)
Oolala, this is a very very good Criterium International, and it is Puerto Rico that will win. Maybe it will be hard to get any price on Aidan O’Brien’s Wootton Bassett colt, so dominant was his run in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend when Christophe Soumillon led him home from the front. It was very impressive and maybe it will be the raider from Angleterre, Ralph Beckett’s Cape Orator that will make Puerto Rico race for this important Group One honour. With Aidan O’Brien having such a brilliant year at the top level, he has three more going in this race, so there could be some tactics used to ensure a good passage for Puerto Rico, but if Christophe Soumillon takes him to the front again, maybe none of this field can stay with him. The sole French runner is Jean-Claude Rouget’s Campacite, but It must be Puerto Rico that is going to win this.
Prix de Flore (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 1.02
Ashariba (nb)
I must be on Ashariba for the Prix de Flore, with Cristian Demuro looking to win on her again after winning the Prix Dahlia here last time. That is form that has now been backed upnon? with the second in the Prix Dahlia, Rainbows Edge, scoring at ParisLongchamp last Sunday, though this week it is not Oisin Murphy but James Doyle to get the ride. Grand Stars for Gerald Mosse has been racing at the very highest level, finishing fifth to my pick Barnavara in the Prix de l’Opera three weeks ago, and must be the one to look out for, but Henry de Bromhead’s Higher Leaves also gets on my list. David Menuisier’s Ashariba is getting better with every run, so maybe can make the hat-trick here?
Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) 1.34
Waybreaker
Oolala, I can see that Aidan O’Brien is very determined to get the most Group One races in the season again, so the Criterium de Saint-Cloud is one he will be trying to win. Maintenant, he has put in four of the eleven declared, and it can be Pierre Bonnard that is the big hope I think, with Christophe Soumillon taking the ride, but maybe this soft ground is the new experiencenon? if I can say that. D’accord, but with the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket in his book, this distance is bon, and stablemate Endorsement has a length and a half to make up from that Group 3 race. Christmas Day is looking for the hat-trick, but Isaac Newton has racing at Longchamp under the belt, I think you say, so will be okay on this ground. Christopher Head’s Waybreaker won over this course and the distance last time, so must be my each way pick, but Pierre Bonnard will be the hot favourite. Oui, I think that at the bigger odds, I will take my each way chance with Waybreakernon?
Prix Royal-Oak (Group 1) 2.50
Arrow Eagle
This Prix Royal-Oak is a very very good race, where I think that there are four with the chance. So, we would always expect to see Andre Fabre’s Sevenna’s Knight in races over this trip, and Christophe Ferland’s Double Major is also on my list. D’accord, these two were the first home in this race last year, so maybe it is a surprisenon? to see them not at the top of the betting market, but maybe this is because of the strength of George Scott’s Caballo De Mar and Jean-Claude Rouget’s Arrow Eagle. I think that my heart is telling me to be on Arrow Eagle for this very fascinating race, because he is unexposed at this trip, and may cause the surprise to the established stayers Sevenna’s Knight, Double Major and Caballo De Mar. Oui, I think I will take the chance on Arrow Eagle, who is the one that has not yet been tried at this trip so can have more.
