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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 13th October 2021.
Trainer : Christophe Ferland. Picture: Pat Healy Photography
This week's round-up includes action from Auteuil, a Listed contest at Toulouse and the G3 Prix Kurse from Vincennes...
Date
Monday, October 4, 2021
Venue
Toulouse
Race
R4 – Prix Panacée – Fonds Européen de l'Elevage
Type
3yo plus Listed Stakes (2400m)
Winner
Rumbles Of Thunder
Jockey/Driver
Eddy Hardouin
Trainer
Jérôme Reynier
Breeding
Night Of Thunder x Blanche Neige
Second
Frankel's Magic
Third
Agua
Rumbles Of Thunder secured back-to-back Listed victories (previously at Merano in Italy) with a comfortable one-length success under a well-judged rider from Eddy Hardouin. The pair found themselves towards the rear in the early stages, before creeping into contention entering the home straight. They had a charmed passaged towards the far rail and got the better of Frankel's Magic to win going away. Despite a weight penalty, the three-year-old filly had something to spare at the line and deserves the chance in Group company. Night Of Thunder stands at Kildangan Stud for a fee of €75,000.
Date
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Venue
Chantilly
Race
R7 – Prix de Bonneval
Type
3yo plus Listed Stakes (1100m)
Winner
Coeur de Pierre
Jockey/Driver
Eddy Hardouin
Trainer
Mauricio Jr Delcher-Sanchez
Breeding
Zanzibari x Twilight Tear
Second
Millau
Third
Arecibo
Eddy Hardouin continued his good run of form steering Coeur de Pierre to an impressive two-length win in this Listed contest. Settled at the back of the field with plenty of cover towards the near rail, the Zanzibari five-year-old gelding made smooth progress to move into contention against the rail before reaching the lead at the 200m marker. He is progressive, having won with plenty in hand, benefitting from a class drop after back-to-back placings in Group Three company.
Date
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Venue
Vincennes
Race
R4 – Prix Kurse
Type
3yo G3 walk up (2200m)
Winner
Ibra Meslois
Jockey/Driver
David Thomain
Trainer
Pierre Belloche
Breeding
The Best Madrik x Vista Mesloise
Second
Cocis MP
Third
Italienne
Ibra Meslois completed a Group Three-driven double with a determined victory in this autostart for three-year-olds. The Pierre Belloche-trained contender secured the lead at the first turn and gravitated for the rail only to be shuffled back. Caught in a pocket but travelling strongly rounding for home he deserves credit for regaining the lead to win with a touch to spare, in a kilometre time of 1'12''2. The Best Madrik bay colt is rapidly improving and may scale to stronger contests at the Parisienne venue over the winter meeting. This race was won by the legendary Face Time Bourbon in 2018.
Date
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Venue
Auteuil
Race
R8 – Prix Claude le Lorrain
Type
5yo plus handicap hurdle (3900m)
Winner
Grand Art
Jockey/Driver
Felix de Giles
Trainer
Jean-Philippe Dubois
Breeding
Evasive x Maia Dancer
Second
King Of Run
Third
Pacha Senam
Grand Art was given a confident hold-up ride from Felix de Giles. Always travelling powerfully, the son of Evasive was brought to the extreme right down the back straight before keeping on strongly to lead at the last. He landed just ahead of Super Alex, who fell at the final hurdle, and surged ahead to win with plenty in hand. This was a second successive Listed victory for the Kean-Philippe Dubois inmate, who could be set for a fruitful Auteuil winter campaign during November having shown excellent course form.
Date
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Venue
Bordeaux
Race
R4 – Grand Critérium de Bordeaux
Type
2yo Listed Stakes (1600m)
Winner
Singforthemoment
Jockey/Driver
Olivier Peslier
Trainer
Christophe Ferland
Breeding
No Nay Never x Kawn
Second
Bahasa
Third
Jacinda
Singforthemoment got off the mark on second outing with a comfortable success tackling Listed level at Toulouse under a strong Olivier Peslier ride. Always prominent, the pair moved into the lead at the 300m marker and kept her rivals at bay to win by a length. Previously she had run the highly promising Agave to a half-length when debuting at Longchamp and build on that with an impressive display. This was the jockey's fourth success in the race, with the trainer now a three-time winner. Christophe Ferland scored with Armoricaine in 2017 and Pao Alto in 2019.
Date
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Venue
Bordeaux
Race
R6 – Prix André Baboin
Type
3yo Listed Stakes (1900m)
Winner
Il Decamerone
Jockey/Driver
Alexis Pouchin
Trainer
Nicolas Paysan
Breeding
Born To Sea x Letizia Relco
Second
Star Of Bengal
Third
Irska
Il Decamerone produced a career best with a resolute display. The Nicolas Paysan-trained five-year-old was perfectly placed in second throughout before hitting the front at the 200m marker and kept on strongly to put a two-length distance between him and his rivals. He arrived in excellent placed form attempting conditions events and found improvement with a first Listed triumph for his jockey, who celebrated wildly after crossing the line. The trainer reported he is an honest and consistent performer who is likely to run well in similar contests on soft ground.
Date
Friday, October 8, 2021
Venue
Compiegne
Race
R5 – Prix Charles Laffitte
Type
3yo Listed Stakes (2000m)
Winner
Anasia
Jockey/Driver
Maxime Guyon
Trainer
André Fabre
Breeding
Intello x Sosia
Second
Baptisia
Third
Sundoro
Anasia registered a second Listed success over the 2000m distance with an all-the-way victory for her Wertheimer & Frere owners. Smartly away, the André Fabre-trained filly took control from the outset, maintaining a length lead entering the home straight and moved across to the stands' rail keeping on willingly for Maxime Guyon to win comfortably. She holds an engagement in the G3 Prix de Flore (2100m) at Saint-Cloud on October 23. Her sire, Intello, stands at Haras du Quesnay for €10,000.
Date
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Venue
Chantilly
Race
R2 - Prix Saraca
Type
2yo Listed Stakes (1400m)
Winner
Zelda
Jockey/Driver
Cristian Demuro
Trainer
Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeding
Zelzal x Hortensia
Second
Chili Flag
Third
Antharis
Zelda bounced back from a below par effort in the G3 Prix la Rochette (1400m) to confirm the promise from her first two successes with a commanding victory dropping in grade. Keen out of the gates, the daughter of Zelzal pulled her way into the lead on the turn for home and never saw another rival as she powered clear in good style. This was a first black-type winner for her Haras de Bouquetot-based freshman sire. Zelda is one of three winners and a first stakes winner out of Hortensia, with her sire standing for a fee of €6,000.
Date
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Venue
Chantilly
Race
R4 – Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte
Type
2yo G3 (1200m)
Winner
Malavath
Jockey/Driver
Olivier Peslier
Trainer
Francis-Henri Graffard
Breeding
Mehmas x Fidaaha
Second
Have A Good Day
Third
Desert Dreamer
Malavath made the big jump from maiden winner to Group winner with a late thrust when scoring a career best in this Group Three prize for juveniles. This daughter of Mehmas has certainly inherited her father's precocity, improving with every run, and only winning her maiden on a penultimate outing at Chantilly. The trainer noted that she has the physical attributes to train on into her three-year-old career. Mehmas stands at Tally Ho Stud for a fee of €25,000.
Date
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Venue
Chantilly
Race
R5 – Prix Fabuleux
Type
3yo Listed Stakes (1800m)
Winner
Lord Charming
Jockey/Driver
Bauyrzhan Murzabayev
Trainer
Peter Shiergen
Breeding
Charm Spirit x Late Show
Second
Quello
Third
Longvillers
Lord Charming is maintaining excellent form this campaign among Group company including a runner-up effort behind Saiydabad in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange (2000m) two starts ago. The three-year-old Charm Spirit colt was always handily placed behind the front-running Midlife Crisis and asserted from the 400m marker to the winning line. This was the winner's first success on a French racecourse and as a triple placer in Group company already, it would be no surprise for him to rise to Group Three glory.
Date
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Venue
Auteuil
Race
R4 - Prix Orcada
Type
4yo Listed Chase (4400m)
Winner
L'Aubonniere
Jockey/Driver
Gaëtan Masure
Trainer
François Nicolle
Breeding
Doctor Dino x Turbotiere
Second
Youtwo Glass
Third
Le Listrac
L'Aubonniere maintained her excellent record over fences with a determined staying-on effort to just get the better in a pulsating finish. One of the first off the bridge, the François Nicolle grey battled on tenaciously to be among the placings at the final fence. She kept on powerfully, thrusting late to get on top. Stepping up to this distance has been the making of her as a sister of 4600m chase winner Dettore, and a half-sister to six winners including Listed winner Turbotin.
Date
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Venue
Auteuil
Race
R5 - Prix Carmarthen
Type
5yo plus G3 (3900m)
Winner
L'Autonomie
Jockey/Driver
Angelo Zuliani
Trainer
François Nicolle
Breeding
Blue Bresil x L'Automne
Second
Folsom Prison
Third
Paul's Saga
L'Autonomie maintained her French hurdle domination with a clear four and a half-length victory ahead of Folsom Prison. This was her fourteenth Graded success and will now be aimed at the Grand Prix d'Automne over the longer distance and on usually heavier ground conditions. Her trainer noted he would love to send his star mare in the UK but must convince her owner Mr Coiffier, who is reportedly not as keen. L'Autonomie's sire, Blue Bresil, stands at Rathbarry Stud.
Date
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Venue
Auteuil
Race
R6 - Prix Heros XII
Type
5yo G3 Chase (4400m)
Winner
Le Berry
Jockey/Driver
Kevin Nabet
Trainer
David Cottin
Breeding
Gemix x Kalberry
Second
General en Chef
Third
Carriacou
Sensational superstar chaser Le Berry made a winning reappearance after suffering a first chase defeat in the G1 Grand Steeplechase de Paris (6000m) in May. He was made to work hard for this victory with stablemate General en Chef proving a tough horse to overcome, with the heavy favourite asserting on the run-in to ultimately win going away. The David Cottin-trained grey will be aimed at the G1 Prix la Haye Jousselin (5500m) at Auteuil next month.
