Eric Libaud trains the winner for breeder and owner, Mme. Henri Devin, owner of Haras du Mesnil. Ange Gabriel (by Kaldounevees) is the first stakes winner from the Head for Heights mare Mount Gable. In his last start he finished second by 1 1/2 lengths to Anabaa Blue in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Fr-II) on June 9.
Ange Gabriel, a colt who until now, had only won in listed company, upset favored filly Aquarelliste and ran away with a two-length win in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I). The winner went off at 17-1 and covered the 12 furlongs in 2:28 3/5.Alex Wildenstein's Aquarelliste was unhappy before the race even started. The Danehill filly planted herself firmly and refused to enter the gate for five minutes, causing jockey Dominique Boeuf to dismount in an effort to get her loaded. Aquarelliste was the 6-1 favorite based on her second-place finish in last year's Prix de L'arc De Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-I) and her April win in the Prix Ganay (Fr-I). Aquarelliste's stablemate, Virginian, set the early pace until the stretch when jockey Thierry Jarnet moved Ange Gambriel to the lead. Polish Summer also moved up to follow the leader but could not get past him in the stretch. Aquarelliste did well enough to hold on for third, but never accelerated to do more. Anabaa Blue, winner of last year's Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby, Fr-I) finished fifth.