[2] As a breeding stallion the best of his progeny has been Vision d'Etat, whose wins included the Prix du Jockey Club and the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
[4] The colt was sent into training with Jean-Pierre Gauvin at his small provincial stable at Saint-Cyr-les-Vignes in the country between St Etienne and Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.
He was owned during his racing career by Pascal Treyve, a baker from Bellegarde-en-Forez who bought the horse for as part of a group of three costing €13,000.
After being beaten a short head by Sir Jade on his seasonal debut, he recorded a four lengths win against eight opponents in the Listed Prix Policeman over 2000 metres.
"[8] On 8 April Saonois was sent to race at a metropolitan track for the first time and was moved up in class for the Group Three Prix La Force over 2000 metres at Longchamp Racecourse.
On 3 June, Saonois started a 25/1 outsider in a twenty-runner field for 175th running of the Prix du Jockey Club over 2100 metres at Chantilly Racecourse.
He started the joint-third-favourite in the betting alongside Kesampour, behind Last Train (narrowly beaten by Imperial Monarch in the Grand Prix de Paris) and the Secretariat Stakes winner Bayrir.
He struggled to obtain a clear run until the last 100 metres when he accelerated between horses to take the lead and won by one and a quarter lengths and a short head from Bayrir and Last Train.
[15] Saonois was retired from racing and began his career as a breeding stallion in 2014 at the Haras du Mesnil at a fee of €3,000.