The Critérium de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1flathorse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbredcolts and fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.
History
The event was established in 1901, and it was originally held in September. It was initially contested over 1,400 metres, and was extended to 2,000 metres in 1906.
The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1919. It was cut to 1,600 metres in 1920, and restored to 2,000 metres in 1924.
Due to the closure of its venue during World War II, the Critérium de Saint-Cloud was not run from 1939 to 1945. It was staged at Longchamp in 1954.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Critérium de Saint-Cloud was given Group 2 status. It was promoted to Group 1 level in 1987.
Prior to 2015 the event was run in mid-November and was Europe's last Group 1 flat race of the year. In 2015 it was moved to a date a week earlier as part of a series of changes to autumn races for two-year-olds and is now run on the same day as another Group 1 race, the Critérium International.[2]
François Mathet – Telegram (1949), Bingo (1952), Pas de Deux (1955), Upstart (1957), Le Francais (1960), Saraca (1968), Rheffic (1970), Simbir (1972)
Leading owner (7 wins):(includes part ownership)
Sue Magnier – Ballingarry (2001), Alberto Giacometti (2002), Fame and Glory (2008), Recital (2010), Waldgeist (2016), Los Angeles (2023), Tennessee Stud (2024)
^Snurge finished first in 1989, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry. b The 2017 running was abandoned due to protests at Saint-Cloud.[3]