Dubai Honour claims deserved European Group 1 with victory in Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris

The 2023 Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner caps a banner weekend for stallion Pride Of Dubai with victory in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris overnight.

Dubai Honour finally claimed a deserved Group 1 win in Europe when he saluted in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris overnight. Picture: Getty Images/File

Dubai Honour, the brilliant English weight-for-star, returned to winning form with an impressive effort in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris overnight.

The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour, ridden by stable jockey Tom Marquand, took a split between the leaders at the top of the straight and raced away to win by two lengths.

The feature France 2400m race is Dubai Honour’s first Group 1 win since he completed the Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double during the 2023 Sydney autumn carnival.

Marquand said Dubai Honour, a six-year-old by Pride Of Dubai who is also the sire of Pride Of Jenni and Saturday’s Tatt’s Tiara winner Bella Nipotina, deserved to finally win a Group 1 race in Europe.

Dubai Honour scorches home against the rail to clinch his first European Group 1 in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud...@TomMarquand | @WilliamHaggaspic.twitter.com/6qaMXIshqo

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 30, 2024

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“This horse has travelled the world over and performed with great credit, so he deserved to finally win a Group 1 race in Europe,” Marquand told the media after the race.

“We had a great trip, we didn’t go that fast and I was able to go progressively through his gears in the straight. On fast ground like today, he can stay the mile and a half but on softer ground probably a mile and a quarter is his ideal.”

Meanwhile, Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien claimed a record-extending 16th Irish Derby when Los Angeles claimed the three-year-old classic at The Curragh.

LOS ANGELES is SO TOUGH ✊

Los Angeles reverses Epsom form with Ambiente Friendly to win the @DDFRacing Irish Derby for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. @curraghrace | @coolmorestud | @Ballydoylepic.twitter.com/fxkoxHMbwz

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 30, 2024

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Ridden by Ryan Moore, Los Angeles had run third to stablemate and superstar colt City Of Troy in the English Derby at his previous start but in that horse’s absence, he won the Irish Derby by nearly a length.