Pierre Bonnard ante-post Derby favourite after Group 1 win in Criterium de Saint-Cloud

The last two winners of the 10 furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud - Tennessee Stud and Los Angeles - have gone on to finish third in the Derby and it would be no surprise if Pierre Bonnard were to go on to match, or improve upon, that record.

Already a leading fancy for the Epsom showpiece, Pierre Bonnard looked every inch a Classic prospect in grinding out victory from A Boy Named Susie and Proof and Sky Bet duly made him their new 7/1 favourite.

Settled in a share of third by Christophe Soumillon behind stablemate Endorsement and A Taste Of Glory, trained by Andrew Balding, the race panned out perfectly for Pierre Bonnard but a bold move by Mikael Barzalona briefly put the cat among the pigeons.

Barzalona had settled A Boy Named Susie (trained by Donnacha O'Brien) in rear but as the field started to turn into the straight, he took the bull by the horns with a positive forward move alongsides Pierre Bonnard. The pair matched strides as the front-runners cried enough but gradually the giant Pierre Bonnard began to impose himself before pulling away.

The victory was Aidan O'Brien's 25th Group 1 of a year as he draws ever closer on his own record of 28 top level wins in a year.

The successful handler told Sky Sports Racing: "Wayne [Lordan] when he rode him absolutely loved him and Christophe was raving about him when he won on him at Newmarket [Zetland Stakes] the last day.

"It's lovely to come here in that ground and give him more education. He's a very special horse I'd say and Christophe gave him a beautiful ride.

"He's by Camelot and they're very comfortable mile and a quarter, mile and a half and he's a typical Camelot, all class. Camelots can have a lot of nervous energy but they're very classy and they do stay."

Soumillon added: "I really love him.

"The way he did it last time was quite impressive. Today was the first time for him to go in different ground; Camelots usually love soft but it's still a new experience in a strong field. I rode him a bit different to last time, I put him in the race quite early and the pace was on with Wayne in the front.

"My horse was really relaxed, I just wanted him to be able to quicken quite early and make sure it didn't turn into a sprint and he gave me a great feeling again; I'm sure he's going to be a great horse for next season.

"Like I said to Aidan last time - he was laughing about it - I never rode, apart from Lambourn last year, a Derby winner in Epsom so I can't really say exactly what you need or not but he's well balanced, he goes left-handed well and he's going to be a nice horse because he's still green and still has a lot of potential.

"Today he went well through the race and when I asked him to pick up, the same with Puerto Rico, I just won hands and heels and I'm sure if I asked him for more he would quicken more.

"Everything worked out like a dream and I'm proud to be in this position and proud to ride such amazing horses."

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