France: Westover sets stakes mark in Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud

England raider and odds-on favorite Westover benefited from a favorable run on the way to a stakes-record win in the 115th running of the Group 1, $438,800 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud contested by five older horses going 1 1/2 miles on turf in France.

A Juddmonte homebred who was sired by Frankel, Westover (1-2) had the support of a pacemaker and stablemate Malabu Drive (29-1), who, however, could not take the lead. Instead, the race was led by Germany raider Tunnes (7-1), who held Malabu Drive on his right until the final turn.

Westover, who was in third place until then, took the lead on his own going into the straight in the counterclockwise race. Zagrey (3-1) soon challenged him and seemed capable of threatening.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Ralph Beckett’s trainee accelerated again and eventually won by two lengths over second-place Zagrey. The gelding Junko (5-1) finished third, three lengths behind. Tunnes faded to fourth and Malabu Drive last.

Westover won in a stakes-record 2:25.46 on a course rated good to soft.

The winner of the 2022 Irish Derby (G1) and runner-up in both the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) and Coronation Cup (G1), Westover is a 4-year-old colt out of the Lear Fan mare Mirabilis, who won the 2006 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G3).