Best Solution & D’bai feature in strong Saint-Cloud Sunday squad

Godolphin sends four colts to Saint-Cloud, France, on Sunday, October 30, with Best Solution, D’bai, Thunder Snow and Bay Of Poets lining up in the final two European G1 races of the year for two-year-olds.

Best Solution (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon) races over a mile and a quarter for the first time in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (15.45hrs local time) after staying on strongly for a decisive win over a mile in the G3 Dubai 100 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on October 8 - the colt’s second victory from five starts.

D'bai (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who runs in the same race, was also victorious over a mile on his latest appearance when scoring by a head in determined fashion on soft ground in a Pontefract Listed race on October 17, his fourth outing.

The Godolphin duo, drawn 11 and nine respectively, take on 11 opponents including G2 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes winner Capri and the only filly in the field, G2 scorer Rich Legacy.

Saeed bin Suroor commented: "Best Solution is a G3 winner on his most recent start and he deserves a chance in a G1.

"He is in good form and has continued to improve throughout the year. The trip should suit him."

Charlie Appleby said: "D’bai is a Listed winner on soft ground and I feel he has come on from his win at Pontefract.

"Stepping up in trip should suit him and he should run well."

Helmet colt Thunder Snow (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon) runs in the seven-furlong Criterium International (14.35hrs local time) and heads to France on the back of three excellent performances over that distance, most recently when finishing a good fourth in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 8.

He is joined by Polytrack maiden winner Bay Of Poets (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who travelled strongly before fading to eighth in the G1 Racing Post Trophy over a mile at Doncaster on October 22.

Saeed bin Suroor explained: "Thunder Snow is a tough horse and very genuine.

"He has finished second in a pair of G2 races and ran well at his most recent start when stepping up to G1.

"The trip is ideal and I expect him to run well."

Charlie Appleby remarked: "Bay Of Poets has been travelling well into his races but failing to finish off.

"Dropping back to seven furlongs will suit him and the ground conditions shouldn't be an inconvenience."

Thunder Snow, drawn three, and Bay Of Poets, in stall four, face seven rivals including G1 Total Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Promise To Be True and easy G3 winner Mate Story.

Also on Sunday’s card, consistent three-year-old filly Show Day (Henri-Alex Pantall/Mickael Barzalona) bids for a first G3 success in the 13-runner Prix Perth (16.15 hrs local time) over a mile.

The daughter of Shamardal was narrowly denied when finishing a close third over the same trip in the G3 Premio Elena e Sergio Cumani at San Siro, Italy, on September 25 and readily won a nine-furlong Listed race at Baden-Baden, Germany, earlier the same month.