Report: France, Tuesday
Saint-Cloud: Prix Edmond Blanc (Group 3) 1m, 4yo+
SOMMERABEND (Mirek Rulec/Gerald Mosse) proved once again to be the hardiest of travellers when landing the day's feature event for Germany, having spent the early part of the year in Dubai.
Mosse himself was riding in France for the first time this year following his traditional spell in Hong Kong, but wasted no time in opening his account.
Sommerabend was one of four seven-year-olds in the line-up and surged clear of another of the veterans, Don Bosco.
Kokaltash and Umberto Rispoli came from a long way back to deliver the final challenge but Sommerabend showed great resolution to hold on by a length.
"Gerald said he felt he would have been better on softer ground but he's fought hard until the end," said Jean-Louis Dressel, representing owners Stall Am Alten Fliess. "He will come back here for the Prix Muguet at the beginning of May."
Czech-born Rulec took over the training of Sommerabend following the death of Uwe Stoltefuss last September.
Silas Marner ran well in third when bidding to win back-to-back runnings, just ahead of last season's Poule d'Essai runner-up Esoterique.