Saint-Cloud Third For Manatee Could Lead To Royal Ascot

Manatee finished third in the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over just short of two miles at Saint-Cloud, France, on Sunday, May 29, and is likely to run next at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old, trained by Andre Fabre and partnered by Mickael Barzalona, was having his first start since Dubai at the end of March.

Manatee broke well and soon led from his three rivals. He set a fair pace and kicked for home with two and a half furlongs remaining.

He was headed by the second Fly With Me and winner Vazirabad with a quarter-mile to go but rallied inside the final furlong, being beaten two lengths in total by the victor whose time came to 3m 35.96s for the one mile, seven furlongs and 110 yards on good to soft going.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: "We are delighted with Manatee's run. It was a semi-comeback and he really needed the outing.

"At the moment, the trainer is strongly considering running Manatee in the Gold Cup (G1, 2m 4f, Royal Ascot, June 16) but we will see how the horse is after this performance and consult."