Voix Du Nord Convincing at Saint-Cloud

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Voix Du Nord gave trainer David Smaga his first group I victory since 1994 with a convincing triumph in Saturday's Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/4 mile.

Ridden by Dominique Boeuf, Voix Du Nord rallied past favored Simplex in the final 150 yards for a 1 1/2-length victory. Day or Night came through late to take third in the field of 10, some 5 1/2 lengths behind the impressive winner. The time was 2:16 on good to soft going.

Voix Du Nord was nearly four lengths behind Bago, the Criterium International (Fr-I) winner, when they met in the Prix des Chenes this summer.

Top Seed took the lead soon after the start and had a three-length advantage with two furlongs to go, eventually finishing fourth. Voix Du Nord was racing in fifth before asked for his run a furlong from home.

Smaga's last group I win was with Marildo in the 1994 Prix Ganay.

"That's a nice way to end the season in France," he told The Racing Post. "He's a very tough and consistent individual. The longer the better and next year he will have a program which will take in the Prix Greffulhe and Lupin."

Boeuf, who won the race for the sixth time, added: "I said after we won in August that Voix Du Nord would win a group I race in the autumn when the ground is softer and the distance longer."

Baron T van Zuylen de Nyevelt bred and owns the French-bred bay by Valanour.

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