Dreamliner and Asmarani star in Saint-Cloud features

Dreamliner appeared to confirm that he has found his ideal level when producing a dramatic late surge to land the Group 3 Prix Edmond Blanc over 1600 metres.

Prior to his below-par eighth-place finish in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on his most recent outing, the four-year-old had been a model of consistency for Stéphane Wattel and Théo Bachelot, the pair combining for three consecutive victories, notably in the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick and the Group 3 Prix Quincey.

With Bachelot back in the saddle, Dreamliner was settled patiently at the rear of the field in the early stages and raced as the backmarker throughout much of the contest. Switched into the centre of the track approaching the 400-metre marker, he was delivered with impeccable timing and produced a decisive turn of foot to overhaul the British challenger Native Warrior close home, scoring by half a length. Silius stayed on well to take third.

Elsewhere on the card, Asmarani took the Listed Prix Right Royal over 3000 metres in authoritative fashion. On just his second start since being gelded, the four-year-old not only gained a first Black Type success but also preserved his unbeaten record for the campaign.

Highly regarded as a juvenile, Asmarani opened his account at this venue in 2025 before finishing second in the Group 3 Prix Hocquart. He was subsequently sent to Royal Ascot for the Group 2 Queen's Vase, where he finished tenth. Returning from a 211-day absence earlier this year, the Aga Khan Studs representative appeared to benefit markedly from the gelding operation, producing an improved performance to defeat the reopposing Double Major by half a length on Chantilly's all-weather surface.

Stepped back up to 3000 metres at Saint-Cloud, Asmarani gave Francis-Henri Graffard, Mickaël Barzalona and Aga Khan Studs a second success at the meeting. Ridden with customary patience by Barzalona, he was held up before being asked to quicken on the home turn. The response was immediate and decisive: Asmarani struck the front approaching the 200-metre marker and stayed on strongly to score by a length and three-quarters. Double Major once again filled the runner-up position, with stablemate Parachutiste taking third.