by Mike Curry

After knocking on the door in group stakes company during the previous two seasons, Spanish Moon broke through emphatically on Sunday with a clear win in the $562,800 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1).

The five-year-old El Prado (Ire) horse surged to the lead in the final furlong and drove to a 1 1/2-length victory under Ryan Moore. A Juddmonte Farms homebred, Spanish Moon completed 2,400 meters (11.93 furlongs) in 2:27.40 on good to soft turf to secure his first group stakes win and fourth stakes victory overall for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Spanish Moon finished third in the Toteswinger Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Eng-G3) last August at Haydock Park and second in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (Eng-G3) in September at Newbury. He entered the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud off a runner-up finish in the Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) on March 28 at Nad al Sheba.

Following the breakthrough win, Stoute confirmed that he views Spanish Moon as a potential contender for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) on October 4 at Longchamp.

"He is a serious horse as he showed when running a close second the Sheema Classic in Dubai," Stoute told Racing Post. "He is in the Arc de Triomphe and that race will certainly be taken into consideration later in the year."

Spanish Moon was somewhat hesitant to load into the starting gate for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. He is not permitted to race in England until November for refusing to load for the Stanjames.com Jockey Club Stakes (Eng-G2) on May 2.

Spanish Moon tracked pacesetter Dream Desert from fourth and advanced to second with about 400 meters remaining. He unleashed a sustained bid to take the lead and had the race wrapped up in the closing strides.

A half brother to Group 2 winner Spanish Sun, Spanish Moon is out of the winning Rainbow Quest mare Shining Bright (GB).

Group 2 winner Alpine Rose held off last year’s Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner, Youmzain, by 1 1/2 lengths to finish second.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor