While Galileo continued to dominate in Britain and Ireland, his champion son Frankel served up the winners of the Group II features at Saint-Cloud on Sunday.
Following a lacklustre return in the Prix de Fontainebleu, the Fabrice Chappet-trained colt Onesto showed an appreciation for an increase in distance in the Group II Prix Greffulhe (2100m).
With Stéphane Pasquier in the saddle, the son of Frankel came from last to blow past the previously unbeaten Dubawi filly Agave to earn himself a shot at the Prix du Jockey Club.
Onesto defeated Agave by two and a half lengths with a further neck back to the Siyouni colt Sir Bob Parker in third.
In two starts last season at two, Onesto was an impressive winner on debut over a mile at Chantilly before being beaten by the Shalaa (IRE) colt Welwal at Deauville.
Welwal had Onesto behind him again when winning the Group III Prix de Fontainebleu.
“It was definitely too short last time (in the Prix de Fontainebleu),” Chappet told Sky Sports Racing.
“He’s by Frankel and out of a Sea The Stars mare with Kahyasi in the family, so this was the first time he ran over the right distance.
“It was the plan to drop out at the back as he had a bad draw, six out of six, and he has a very good turn of foot.
“The Prix du Jockey Club will be next. We’ll see if he can stay further later in the year, he’s got the pedigree for it, but we’ll take him to the Jockey Club and see from there.”
A 185,000gns at Tattersalls yearling, Onesto was sent to the Ocala breeze-up sales, where he was knocked down for $535,000 to Hubert Guy.
It is a Juddmonte Farms bloodlines on both sides as the son of Frankel is out of the unraced Onshore (Sea The Stars), a three-quarter sister to the David Hayes-trained Jet Away (Cape Cross), successful in the Group III Easter cup at Caulfield.
Onshore’s dam Kalima (Kahyasi), is a sister to Juddmonte’s remarkable Hasili.
Later in the day, the Christopher Head-trained mare Sibila Spain captured the Group II Prix du Muguet (1600m).
Less than two lengths covered the first five across the line.
Fourth at her seasonal return in the Group III Prix Edmond Blanc over the same course and distance, the 4yo daughter of Frankel defeated the Aga Khan’s last start Group III Prix Quincey winner Dilawa (Dubawi) by a head, with Team Valor’s Hurricane Dream (Hurricane Cat) a length and a quarter back in third.
Last season at three, Sibila Spain won her first two by a combined ten lengths. She finished fourth in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks). Following a spell, Sibila Spain won the Listed Prix de Liancourt before finishing seventh in the Prix de l’Opéra.
Bred by Coolmore, Sibila Spain also has an Australian connection. She is a sister to Melbourne Cup fourth Master Of Reality out of L'Ancresse (Darshaan), runner-up in the Irish Oaks and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Head suggested the Group II Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot is a possible target for Sibila Spain.
