Sydney Opera House foiled in France Aidan O’Brien’s Sydney Opera House was caught by Wonderment in the final strides of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. O’Brien’s chief hope appeared to be Norway, who had Sydney Opera House behind him when winning the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago. Seamie Heffernan attempted to make all the running on the favourite but he found little when pressed, firstly by Andrew Balding’s Fox Tal. Fox Tal briefly looked like keeping his challengers at bay, but Sydney Opera House and Mickael Barzalona hit the front close home. However, Nicolas Clement’s Wonderment, having just her third run, quickened up impressively down the centre of the track to get up close home under Stephane Pasquier. Norway finished fourth with Seaad bin Suroor’s Shoot For Gold and John Gosden’s Shambolic well beaten.
