News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 10th August 2022.
Flat
On Saturday at Deauville trainer Jean-Claude Rouget recorded his 7,000th career victory when Rajapour won the Prix de Crèvecœur (for debutantes). The well-bred chestnut colt by Almanzor left a good impression as Christophe Soumillon did not need to ask him to extend finding success with something in hand. This race frequently unearths good horses.
Botanik has always shown above average ability. As a two-year-old he finished second in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) and at Deauville on Sunday, he won his first Black Type race scoring in the Prix de Reux (G3) over 2500m, which is considered a trial for the upcoming Grand Prix Deauville (G2) run over the same distance to be held on 28 August. Glycon finished second in the same race on Sunday. He won this race last year before going on to win the Grand Prix de Deauville (G2). Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget indicated he would still be targeting the feature at the end of the month but would be seeking slightly easier ground than the conditions faced on Sunday.
The Prix de Meautry (G3) run over 1200m will be a target for Loubeisien following his comeback second on Sunday at Deauville in the Prix Moonlight Cloud (L) also run over 1200m. Having his first start since finishing second in the Prix Djebel (G3) in April, he had suffered a slight setback and will now be targeted for a late summer and autumn campaign. Another horse targeting the Prix Meautry (G3) is Siam Paragon who finished third in the same race as Loubeisien. A Listed winner he had a weight penalty to carry and when they next meet it will be on level weights. The race takes place 28 August.
The Prix Fromagerie Graindorge (Prix Tip Moss) (Class 2) was won by Fénelon at Clairefontaine on Friday and in a unique prize from the sponsor, the winning jockey (Stephane Pasquier) was rewarded with his 'body-weight' in cheese! A smart performer on his day, Fénelon had finished a downfield eighth at his previous start in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2) however, dropping to this level gave him the confidence to continue to progress and display the talent he showed earlier in his career. He was able to peg back the leader Mesaure of Time to win by the narrowest of margins. Smile Smakers was third a further 2L away. The winner will now be targeted for the Grand Prix de Deauville (G2) on 28 August.
La Parisienne finished second in this seasons' Prix de Diane (Gr1). After a brief break she will next start in the Prix Vermeille (Gr1) on September 11.
Four French horses are on the list of 186 entered in the Melbourne Cup (Gr1). Fabrice Chappet is doubly represented with Bel Aristo and the three-year-old Master Gatsby, who finished third in the Grand Prix de Clairefontaine (L) last Sunday week. The two highest rated runners from France entered are the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Glycon and Iresine, both on a rating of 50.5. In total 43 international horses have been nominated with trainer Joseph O'Brien having entered ten horses and his father, Aidan, six.
Jouza, a last start Listed winner at Vichy over 2000m will next start in the Prix du Bertrand de Tarragon (G3) at Chantilly over 1800m in mid-September for fillies and mares.
For his first runner as an owner of a trotter, Yann Barberot (Deauville based flat trainer) saw his colours shine on Monday at Bréhal when Kocktail Love, a colt trained by Philippe Allaire and driven by David Thomain won. In the galloping world, roles are reversed where the three-year-old thoroughbred filly Daisy Maisy is trained by Yann Barberot and owned by Philippe Allaire.
Trotting
Comte des Tithais won the twelfth round of the Trophée Vert series run at Aix-les-Bails on Sunday. He was a surprise winner having been a training acquisition by trainer/driver Pierre Callier. He defeated Duc du Lupin with Eregon de Jupilles in third. As winner of the race Comte des Tithais collected 15 points for the series and is now in ninth placing. The next, and final round will be held at Montier-en-Der on 21 August ahead of the final at Craon on Monday, September 5.
On Sunday the well-bred Irma du Vivier presented Benoît Robin with his 150th career success. She is out of Vivier, the sister of Tonio du Vivier and Ustinof du Vivier, both prolific big earnings winners.
The Thierry Duvaldestin filly Kalea Dream made a winning debut last Saturday at Les Sables d'Olonne in the Prix Ker Miel. Her trainer has made no secret of the high regard he has for her. Her dam Situtunga was a semi-classic winner at three and this is her fifth winner. For new stallion Earl Simon this was a first winner from his first starter!
Five drivers/jockeys have now recorded 100 winners for the season. François Lagadeuc reached this mark last Tuesday week when Hurricane Wind scored at Meslay-du-Maine. Others to have achieved this number are Alexandre Abrivard, Eric Raffin, Mattheu Abrivard and Yoann Lebourgeois. The following day he drove another winner, this time at Enghien when Farrell Seven scored.
Union Européenne du Trot (UET) have announced the international drivers for the annual challenge, this year to be held at Mons and Tongres in Belgium on 10 & 11 September. France will be represented by David Bekaert.
Impériale Mivence gave stallion Bilibili his 100th winner on Monday at Rocherfort-sur-Loire under saddle.
It was a big weekend for trainer Philippe Allaire when he won the Group races at Enghien and in the Prix de Genève he trained the first three home (Izoard Védaquais, Italiano Vero, Callmethebreeze). Apart from this and the Prix de Berlin winner, Just a Gigolo, he also saw Jamiroquai finish second and on Sunday two-year-old Kaiser Gibus won his third race at Neuillé-Pont-Pierre.
In Italy at the track of Treviso, Face Time Bourbon recorded his first offspring victory on Sunday. A filly trained by Walter Zanetti and driven by Andrea Farolfi, Eleonora Grif rated 1'16''9 (1609m, autostart). The 'K', two-year-olds, are the first of his progeny to run and of his 91 sired colts/fillies in France, 27 have qualified.
Jumping
The stallion Victory Song recorded a first obstacles success with his first runner in the discipline, La Chapardeuse winning a hurdle for three-year-olds on Monday at Rochefortsur-Loire ridden by Étienne d'Andigné. Victory Song stands at Haras de Sivola and from his first year of breeding produced thirteen of which only four are reported in training. The two to have raced both turned out to be winners (Eagle Gray won on the flat at Saint-Galmier in April). Victory Song is well-bred by Dansili from All Too Beautiful making him a full brother to Galileo. He stands for €1800.
The François Nicolle yard is seeing some big names return to training including Hermès Baie (winner of the Prix Alain du Breil – Grande Course de Haies des 4 ans) and the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (both races G1). He is not expected to race before October with the Group One November features being an obvious target. La Manigance, winner of the Prix Jean Stern (G2) in April, will be aimed at the Prix Maurice Gillois (Gr1).
Last Sunday at Royan, three-year-old filly Vrheliga won the Prix Dynavena – Etourneaud Hurdle on debut. Trained by François Nicolle, she is by Doctor Dino from Eliga who was the winner of the Prix André Michel (Gr3) and is closely related to Srelighonn winner of the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure.
