Report: France, Tuesday
Saint-Cloud: Prix la Camargo (Listed) 1m, 3yo fillies
STORMYRA (Jean-Paul Gallorini/Umberto Rispoli) sprang a minor shock and, in doing so, paid handsome compliment to last season's Prix Marcel Boussac form.
Sent off fourth-best of the six runners the daughter of Stormy River fought valiantly to overcome longtime leader Victoria Regina before holding the late charge of favourite Stellar Path to score by a neck.
Stormyra finished fifth behind Indonesienne (above) in the Boussac
Stormyra finished fifth behind Indonesienne and Lesstalk In Paris in the Boussac last October but was then disappointing on her final start at two when finishing behind Stellar Path in the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville.
"I'm not surprised she won because it didn't seem like the rest of the field was quite up to her rating," said Gallorini, who was in no rush to pinpoint future targets.
"I was a little bit worried that they went so slowly and then she hesitated slightly when the gap appeared on the rail. She has room to improve and we'll see where she goes next because I think she'll get a bit further and she is entered in the Prix Saint-Alary as well as the Poule d'Essai."
Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte was philosophical after Maxime Guyon ran out of time aboard Stellar Path, having been last turning for home.
"It was the plan to wait with her because she can get a bit lit up in front but, it's difficult to make that kind of ground up first time out on that ground," he said. "Given what she achieved last year we'll step her up in grade."
The George Baker-trained Laurelita led the field into the straight but faded in the final furlong to finish sixth.
Also on Tuesday
Saint-Cloud: Prix Omnium II (Listed) 1m, 3yo colts & geldings
SALAI (Jean-Claude Rouget/Christophe Soumillon) could go straight to the Poule d'Essai des Poulains in a little over six weeks time after holding off the late burst of Army Bulletin to score by a neck.
This race has twice provided the winner of the Classic in the last ten years.
However, both Silver Frost (2009) and American Post (2004) gained further match practice in the Prix de Fontainebleau before the big day.
"We decided to hold him up but the gap presented itself to Christophe and he was always going to hold on, albeit 1,600 metres [a mile] is as far as he wants," said Rouget. "He likes to be fresh so we'll have to see about the Fontainebleau. He'll probably run in the Poule d'Essai either way."
Army Bulletin took a while to pick up ground softer than he had previously encountered but showed he has talent when flying home under Guyon.