Moon set for Breeders shot

Connections of Spanish Moon will continue to challenge for overseas honours after the five-year-old landed the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

Sir Michael Stoute's charge is currently under a six month suspension in England after failing to enter the stalls on his proposed reappearance, leaving little option but to travel abroad.

His victory in the Group One race in Saint-Cloud now opens several doors for the entire, who was winning his first race at the highest level.

"Obviously we have to go where it makes most sense for him and we are slightly restricted," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to the owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah.

"The main thing that came out of yesterday was the trouble they went to to get him in (the stalls).

"He doesn't give any trouble at all at home, he's a bit of an enigma. I went to see him do an unofficial stalls test the other day and he went in 10 times without a bother.

"He races genuinely too so there is no questioning his attitude.

"After this performance we can genuinely say he is a Group One horse, definitely.

"We'll have to look at the options for him. We'll sit down and give it some thought and I don't see why the Breeders' Cup should not come under consideration along with Hong Kong and Dubai again.

"He was winter favourite for the Derby all those years ago so it's nice to see him prove what a good horse he is."

No sparkle

Meanwhile, connections of Youmzain were left to ponder a rare disappointing performance from the six-year-old, after he finished third under Christophe Soumillon in a race he won 12 months ago.

"I think he's getting a bit older and the winner is an improving horse as well as a year younger," said Bruce Raymond, owner Jaber Abdullah's racing manager.

"We expect the horse to be 100% every day and of course they can't be.

"For me his sparkle wasn't there as it was in the Coronation Cup and certainly not as it was last year.

"The horse looked fine, otherwise he wouldn't have run, but I was a little bit worried when Christophe had to niggle at him turning into the straight and he couldn't quite keep up with the winner.

"That is not like him at all and Christophe just said he was struggling to keep up with them and when he picked up, he didn't do it quick enough.

"It is likely to be the King George and the Arc now, there's not much else for him."