Moon takes shine to French stalls

REPORT SAINT-CLOUD: SPANISH MOON stayed on gamely for Ryan Moore to take top honours in yesterday's Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Michael Stoute’s entire is currently serving a suspension from British racecourses after failing to go into the stalls at Newmarket in May.

Although again slightly reluctant to enter the traps, Moore’s partner was thankfully more compliant in France and was able to take his chance.

Travelling nicely in behind the early leaders, Spanish Moon (8 to 1) was unleashed by Moore inside the final two furlongs and soon went to the front with a tremendous burst of pace.

Alpine Rose was second, while Mick Channon’s odds-on favourite, Youmzain, failed to pick up at a crucial stage and had to make do with minor honours in third.

Stoute said: “I want to thank the French starters for helping him into the stalls. The horse is entered in the Arc and we shall discuss that option.”

Channon was understandably disappointed with Youmzain’s display and said candidly: “I’ve no excuses to make.”

His jockey, Christophe Soumillon, added: “I followed the eventual winner but in the final straight he was incapable of regaining ground, and actually even weakened in the last few metres.

“Maybe he hasn’t recovered from his run in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.”

Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Ashalanda sprang a major surprise when making every yard of the running in the the second feature race on the card, the Group Two Prix de Malleret.

The 33 to 1 outsider was expectedly sent straight to the head of affairs by Freddy di Fede in order to make the running for stablemate, and hot favourite, Shamakiya.

The challengers were queuing up along the straight, but none of them could reel in Ashalanda, who kept up the gallop to take the prize.

Terre Du Vent filled the runner-up spot, while Shamakiya and Kalla dead-heated for third spot.

Stoute’s Enticement was the disappointment of the race, dropping away tamely along the straight to finish last.

De Royer-Dupre said: “Ashalanda came to my stables only a week ago and was very kindly transferred here by Jean-Claude Rouget to serve as a leader.

“I obviously don’t know her very much, but she must be quite good to have won today.

“On Tuesday she worked on the grass and actually looked very good.

“Shamakiya was a little soft when things accelerated and she didn’t really fire.

“Ashalanda comes from the south and maybe she is better adapted to the heat.”

* The funeral of the former senior steward of the Turf Club, Ray Rooney, takes place in Galway today. He died on Friday night after suffering a stroke the previous Wednesday.

Ray Rooney was senior steward from July 2001 to December 2003 and was also chairman of the Curragh committee from 2004 to 2008.

A successful owner through the years, his most famous horse was the 1978 Cheltenham winner, the Edward O’Grady-trained Golden Cygnet, rated one of the all-time great hurdlers but who sustained fatal injuries in a fall at Ayr just a month after winning at the festival.

Rooney’s funeral is scheduled to take place in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Galway this morning at 11am.