€250,000 Critérium International: Son beats father in French duel
Photo : scoopdyga.com
October 22, Saint-Cloud Racecourse (Hauts-de-Seine). The €250,000 Critérium International (Gr1) led to a splendid final duel between two colts trained by the father, Aidan O'Brien, and one of his sons, Donnacha, who eventually won the toss with Proud And Regal (Galileo), beating Espionage (Galileo) by a head. It is the 5th win in the race for Coolmore in the last 15 years.
On the heavy ground, these two Irish raiders led all the way, leaving the English colt Salt Bay (Farhh) to take a brave 3rd place at almost two lengths. The French favourite Kubrick (Dubawi) could not play any part in the final stages.
Gone in July 2021, Galileo (Sadler's Wells) still has two generations to show up at the races.
Homebred by Coolmore, Proud and Regal is out of Simply Perfect (Danehill), purchased as a yearling for £220,000. She went on to win the Fillies Mile (Gr1) and the Falmouth Stakes (Gr1) in the two following years. Proud And Regal is her best colt, even though her elder foal Mekong River (Galileo) won a gr3. Proud and Regal was withdrawn from Goffs sales as a yearling.