The youngest entry out of seven in Saturday's GI Christophe Clement Stakes at Saratoga Race Course is Amo Racing's European invader Ancient Egypt (Ire) (Frankel {Ire}).In a short amount of time the 3-year-old has faced some tough competition on the other side of the Atlantic while representing the yard of Charlie Johnston.The colt missed by a neck in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes during the Royal Meeting at Ascot June 19 and lost by head in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris Stakes at ParisLongchamp July 14. Ancient Egypt will get a concession of four lbs. in the Clement.“The horse has landed in New York and he's shipped well and touch wood, everything goes smoothly from here,” Johnston said. “He seems to have done well. His last two runs have been fantastic, albeit a bit heartbreaking in defeat. He ran fantastic races in both Ascot and Paris and showed himself as a top-class mile-and-a-half horse on fast ground.”Tawny Port wins the Belmont Gold Cup | Sarah AndrewThere is no question that GII Belmont Gold Cup winner Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) going out for Peachtree Stable and Miguel Clement in the renamed Sword Dancer Stakes is a major storyline.If the young trainer–who prepared nearly his whole life to take the reins–wins this race it would cap a beautiful run for the so-called 'CC tribe' who remembers their fallen leader with reverence and fondness.Tawny Port, who happens to be the oldest horse in the field at seven, is peaking at the right time. After several hard luck defeats just over a year ago, the last remaining alum from the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby appears to be in his best form. The venerable Clement trainee earned himself a 'Golden Ticket' to race in the G1 Melbourne Cup when he won the June 4 running of the Gold Cup by a nose and set the track record.“This was always the plan to run here [in the Clement] after the Belmont Gold Cup, then go back to Kentucky Downs and after that discuss whether we go back to Canada or actually take a swing at Australia in the Melbourne Cup,” Miguel Clement said. “The horse is ready.”Hot jockey Flavien Prat had several options in the Clement, but he chose to stick with Seth Klarman's Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Trainer Chad Brown sent the 6-year-old to Monmouth, and the ridgling brought back wins in the Monmouth Stakes June 13 and the GII United Nations Stakes July 18.Program Trading & Flavien Prat after UN triumph | Sarah Andrew“He [Program Trading] loves Monmouth [3-for-3 and two stakes wins],” Brown said. “He also appreciates some give in the ground, but I'm not sure we're going to get that. He just ran terrific going a mile and three-eighths and we'll give this a shot. He's doing very well right now.”The three horses who made up the podium for the GII Bowling Green Stakes at the Spa July 11 are ready to stretch out in the Clement. Ole Crazy Bone (Ghostzapper), UAE group stakes winner Fort George (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and Minaret Station (Instilled Regard) finished in that order, but the race was tight.OXO homebred Minaret Station is conditioned by Will Walden, who won the GIII Christophe Clement Stakes at Gulfstream Park in late January, and has shown his appreciation for all that the Hall of Fame trainer taught him about racing and life.Rounding out the field is George Boughey trainee Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Are}). Having taken on the boys in the past with success for owner Michael Tabor, the 5-year-old is wheeling back here after netting the GII Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga Aug.2. Other Saturday-Sunday Compass Points The graded stakes compass points to Monmouth Park on Saturday where older males will square off in the GIII Philip H. Iselin Stakes.A couple of 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard,' slugged it out last time in the GIII Salvator Mile Stakes by the Shore June 13. East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) got the better of Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), but expect the rematch to be equally scintillating.East Avenue (outside) over Bishops Bay | courtesy of MonmouthThe Iselin is more than a match race. Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) should not be overlooked, is a graded stakes winner and is just getting his campaign in gear for trainer Ethan West.The King's Plate card represents one of the premier days on the calendar in Canada and Woodbine's big race will be previewed in the TDN here.As for the higher-level undercard in Toronto, that includes the GII King Edward Stakes which features last year's winner Gas Me Up (Hard Spun) and MGSP Irish Aces (Mshawish). The GII Canadian Stakes and GIII Bold Venture Stakes are also on tap.Turning the page to Sunday, the Spa will host the GIII Mahony Stakes where the field will try to catch at the warning track Outfielder (Speightstown). Named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' the 3-year-old colt is making his first start in the U.S. since being well-beaten in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 19.The seaside oval at Del Mar cards the GIII Rancho Bernardo Stakes. If GISW Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) gets loose from the pack early then the 6-year-old mare could have her ninth win in 11 starts.The post Graded Weekend: Talented European Invader At The Gates In The GI Christophe Clement Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.