3 minute read

One of the features of the last weekend of French G1 action for the year is the Criterium International run at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.

Thunder Snow won this race and had bigger success elsewhere. Can we see more global travellers out of the 2020 Criterium International (1600m) at Saint-Cloud on Saturday?

2020 CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Criterium International is a Group 1 race run under Set Weight conditions for two year old colts and fillies at Saint-Cloud conducted by France Galop.

The Criterium International is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1893 and was won by Bayadere but stopped in 1910. It restarted in 2001 and was taken out by Act One.

It was originally run at 1600m but changed to 1400m with some realigning of races. Now in 2020 it is back at 1600m and at Saint-Cloud.

The 2017 edition was abandoned due to mass protests from French racing participants at the Saint-Cloud course. No races on the card were rescheduled afterwards.

The 2019 running had four final acceptors and then two scratched meaning the G1 had only two runners.

Leading jockey is Christophe Soumillon with four while Aidan O'Brien has most wins as a trainer with four.

The last non-French winner was Royal Meeting in 2018 for Saeed bin Suroor.

The Criterium International was worth €150,000 in 2020 due to coronavirus cutbacks.

Notable winners of the Criterium International include Royal Meeting (2018), Thunder Snow (2016), Johannes Vermeer (2015), Ectot (2013), Roderic O'Connor (2010), Jan Vermeer (2009), Mount Nelson (2006), Bago (2003) and Dalakhani (2002).

The 2019 Criterium International was won by Alson from Armory. (Only two ran).