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This year is the nineteenth running of the Group One Critérium International for two-year olds colts and fillies over 1600m and will be reverting back to its original home at Saint-Cloud.
This event has seen multiple changes over the years with the conditions of the race under constant review. Replacing the Prix de la Salamandre in 2000, the contest formed part of a restructured calendar for juveniles in France and was held at Saint-Cloud. Named after a discontinued race (held between 1893 and 1910), the Critérium International was transferred to Paris Longchamp in 2018. It has been the subject of various distance changes throughout its short history and has returned to the original trip of 1600m.
We look at the winner's of the Critérium International and their future career success…
| Winner (year) of the Critérium International | Best Classic Performance | Best Subsequent Career Effort |
| Alson (2019) | 3rd in 2020 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m) at Deauville. | October 2020 – 1st in the Listed Prix Matchem (1400m) at Saint Cloud |
| Royal Meeting (2018) | Not raced in Classics | Had one year off and returned with a 3rd G3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield (Australia) |
| Thunder Snow (2016) | 2nd in May 2017 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) at The Curragh | July 2017 - 1st in the G1 Prix Jean Prat (1600m) at Chantilly |
| Johannes Vermeer (2015) | Not raced at three | July 2017, 1st in the G3 International Stakes (2000m) at The Curragh |
| Vert De Grece (2014) | Not raced in Classics | Two subsequent runs in Hong Kong after return from injury |
| Ectot (2013) | Not raced in Classics | September 2014, 1st in the G2 Prix Niel (2400m) at Longchamp |
| Loch Garman (2012) | 10th in the 2013 G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly. | May 2013, 2nd in the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (2000m) at Leopardstown. |
| French Fifteen (2011) | 2nd in May 2012 G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket . | April 2012, 1st in the G3 Prix Djebel (1400m) at Maisons-Laffitte |
| Roderic O'Connor (2010) | 1st in May 2011 G1 Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas (1600m) at The Curragh | June 2011, 8th in the G1 Prix Du Jockey Club.(2100m) at Chantilly Successful Stallion |
| Jan Vermeer (2009) | 3rd in G1 Irish Derby (2400m) at The Curragh | July 2010, 3rd in G1 Grand Prix De Paris at Longchamp |
The last ten renewals have provided mixed fortunes. However it is clear the Critérium International is an influential race providing future Group winners but not necessarily in the Classics. Longer term victories appear more consistent at the height of summer and the following autumn.
The return to 1600m could be an intriguing factor on how the coming years influence the racing history books and whether the Critérium International can make a bigger impact on the Classics. Even so, it remains one of the most influential Group One two-year-old races at unearthing genuine Group performing horses.
The Critérium de Saint-Cloud is a G1 event for two-year olds colts and fillies held at Saint Cloud in late October or early November. Run over 2000m, it was promoted to the Group One level in 1987. Traditionally the last Group One race for juveniles in Europe during the second week of November, it was moved to now stand alongside on the same card as the G1 Critérium International (1600m). It is the only two-year-old race globally that has Group One status over the 2000m.
Abandoned due to protests in the area in 2017, the G1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud has a fascinating history...
| Winner (year) of the Critérium de Saint Cloud | Best Classic Performance | Best Subsequent Career Effort |
| Mkfancy (2019) | Not raced in Classics | March 2020, 2nd in the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault (1800m) at Chantilly |
| Wonderment (2018) | 7th June 2019 G1 Prix de Diane Longines (2100m) at Chantilly. | September 2019, 2nd in the Conditions Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes (2200m) at Belmont Park (USA) |
| Waldgeist (2016) | 2nd June 2017 G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly. | October 2019, 1st in the G1 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at Longchamp |
| Robin Of Navan (2015) | 11th June 2016 G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly. | May 2016, 2nd in the G2 Prix Greffulhe (2000m) at Saint Cloud |
| Epicuris (2014) | 5th in June 2015 G1 Investec Derby (2400m) at Epsom Downs. | April 2015, 2nd in the G3 Prix La Force (2000m) at Longchamp |
| Prince Gibraltar (2013) | 3rd in June 2014 G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly. | July 2014, 2nd in the G1 Grand Prix De Paris (2400m) at Longchamp |
| Morandi (2012) | June 2013 2nd in the Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly. | April 2013, 2nd in the G3 Prix De Fontainebleau (1600m) at Longchamp |
| Mandaean (2011) | Not raced in Classics | January 2013, Meydan Beach Trophy handicap (1609m) at Meydan (UAE) |
| Recital (2010) | 6th in June 2011 G1 Investec Derby (2400m) at Epsom Downs. | May 2011, 1st in the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (2000m) at Leopardstown (IRE) |
| Passion for Gold (2009) | Not raced at three | May 2011, 1st in the Listed Southern Daily Echo Tapster Stakes (2400m) at Goodwood (UK) |
Very similar to the Critérium International, the Critérium de Saint-Cloud does not necessarily produce future Classic winners but has showcased future stars with many making the frame in their three-year-old season but overall the race has struggled to produce horses that progress in their careers. However, there is one notable exception.2 016 winner Waldgeist is a standout in the last ten renewals - second in the G1 Prix Du Jockey Club in the following season and successful in the G1 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at ParisLongchamp in 2019.
Could the Critérium de Saint-Cloud produce another star this year? It is not impossible…
