Impressive Cloth Of Stars takes Exbury

Cloth Of Stars, giving weight all round, toyed with the opposition on his seasonal debut in the 10-furlong G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud, France on Sunday, March 19, winning easily.
 
The four-year-old colt, enjoying his third course and distance success, was held up eighth of the nine runners by Mickael Barzalona as Savoken led.
 
Cloth Of Stars, trained by Andre Fabre, progressed to sixth on the outside by half-way and was produced widest of all in the straight under a sympathetic ride.
 
He started a run with just over a quarter-mile remaining and, so powerful was his turn of foot, that the Godolphin contender led after another half-furlong.
 
Cloth Of Stars went clear under hands and heels and only Star Victory could go with him. The winner always had the measure of the runner-up and was eased close home to score by a length and a quarter in 2m 7.05s on ground described as very soft. The third, Café Royal, was another three and a half lengths in arrears.
 
Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: “Cloth Of Stars won very nicely and showed a lovely turn of foot on his seasonal return. We are delighted to win the first Group race this year.
 
“Mickael said Cloth Of Stars had done very well mentally as well as physically from three to four and is helped by a good pace in his races as it means he can relax.
 
“There are plenty of options and Andre will discuss these. Cloth Of Stars could go down the Prix Ganay (G1, Saint-Cloud, May 1, 1m 2.5f) route or he could travel overseas depending on how the other older horses we have get on.”
 
Mickael Barzalona added: “Cloth Of Stars is a super colt who accelerated very quickly to put the race to bed.”
 
The son of Sea The Stars has now been successful in five of his nine races.