Full of Gold Glistens in France

Full of Gold outclassed his rivals and was an impressive two length winner of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I) Nov. 11.  The race marked the last group I event of the European flat season.

Racing as a homebred for Alec Head, the striking chestnut son of Gold Away raced comfortably in mid-pack for much of the ten furlong contest.  As the field entered the straight, jockey Thierry Gillet shook Full of Gold up a bit, and the colt responded willingly, taking command of the race with a furlong to run. 

Full of Gold drew off to win easily by two lengths over favored Hannouma, with Putney Bridge just a neck back in third.  Final time for the race was 2:18.1 over the very soft going.

Both Full of Gold and Putney Bridge are trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, daughter of Alec Head.  The victory marked the trainer’s first group I victory since American Post captured the 2004 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Fr-I).

Full of Gold is out of the Sillery mare, Funny Feerie.