The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 22nd October 2023

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Saint-Cloud & Leopardstown

Saint-Cloud

Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) 12.58
Islandsinthestream
There’s a big prize on offer for this Group 1 Juvenile contest, and that’s attracted plenty of raiders to French soil. The pick of these is Joseph O’Brien’s Islandsinthestream, who has the advantage of racing experience after four starts, of which he’s won two and been runner-up twice. The Wootton Bassett colt has to cope with more cut in the ground here, but has already chalked up a win at ParisLongchamp, so known to travel well. The big threat is Aidan O’Brien’s Illinois, won with plenty in hand in his debut under rules, but this is a much deeper race. Islandsinthestream’s runners-up spot in the Group 1 National Stakes at The Curragh is the best form on offer, and he is taken to go one better here

Criterium International (Group 1) 1.33
Grey Man
Patrice Cottier can keep this important title on home soil with Grey Man, who has been a model of consistency this year and has conditions to suit. Last seen being touched off by the useful looking Zabiari in the Group 3 Prix des Chenes at ParisLongchamp last month, this return to slower ground should put him in pole position. In the Prix Francois Boutin where he served it up to Aidan O’Brien’s Mythology on slower ground back in August, he showed plenty of toe, so gets the vote for this Group 1, chiefly at the expense of David Menuisier’s Sunway

Prix Perth (Group 3) 2.50
Tribalist (nap)
It’s very hard to ignore the appeal of Andre Fabre’s Tribalist for this Group 3 contest. Unbeaten this season in three outings, including two here on soft ground, he scored with an all the way win at Chantilly in impressive fashion when last seen. There’ll be no change in tactics from Mickael Barzalona, he’ll be pushing Tribalist to the front from the off and planning to stay there. Respected

Prix Belle de Nuit (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 3.25
Caius Chorister
Caius Chorister was third of eight in a blanket finish over course and distance last month, and can go close again with Oisin Murphy making the trip over. With no concerns over this ground, and with a solid runners-up spot in the Old Borough Cup Handicap at Haydock Park also in the book, David Menuisier’s Golden Horn filly looks sure to be in the frame. Every chance

Leopardstown

Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes (Listed) 2.10
Snapraeterea
Aidan O’Brien drops Cairo markedly in grade here, after last being seen chasing home Paddington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas back in May. That’s a long time off the track, and there’s some concern over this heavy ground, so he’s easy to oppose, with Joseph O’Brien’s Snapraeterea looking the obvious candidate. He lines up here fresh from a win in the Listed Concorde Stakes at Tipperary three weeks ago, on similarly deep ground, so conditions should be just fine. Last year’s winner, Power Under Me is a useful sort on his day, but needs to bounce back from a poor show at Cork last time out, where Snapraeterea claimed the runners-up spot, so Joseph O’Brien’s charge looks the one to keep on side

Thomas’s Of Foxrock ‘Jim And Kathleen Murphy’ Memorial Trigo Stakes (Listed) 3.20
Sprewell (nb)
The second of the Listed contests on Leopardstown’s Sunday card can go to Sprewell. Jessica Harrington’s Churchill colt is course and distance winner here on soft ground, and these are far calmer waters than the Irish Champion Stakes last month on this track where he trailed in last of eight. That was a hot Group 1, so this drop in grade to Listed level gives him every chance on ground to suit. The one to beat

The Mandarin