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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 4th May 2021.
It has been a busy week with all three codes having Black type races with highlights including Longchamp's Sunday programme, Auteuil last Friday, Argentan's big day plus much more...
Flat
| Date | Wednesday 28 April |
| Venue | La Teste (Good) |
| Race | R6 – G3 Sheikh Mansoor Festival - Prix Dormane (1900m) |
| Type | For four-year-old pure Arab breds |
| Winner | Abbes |
| Jockey | Olivier Peslier |
| Trainer | Thomas Fourcy |
| Breeding | TM Fred Texas x Raqiyah |
| Second | Munir du Soleil |
| Third | Hoggar De L'Ardus |
| Lacking early speed, the four-year-old settled midfield throughout the contest. However, as the field entered the home straight, he was able to receive a clear run and the grey proved too strong putting a nose in front and producing the first of three home for trainer Thomas Fourcy. | |
| Date | Wednesday 28 April |
| Venue | Saint Cloud (Good) |
| Race | R6 – G3 Prix d'Estruval (2500m) |
| Type | For four- and five-year-olds fillies and Mares. Pure Arab breds. |
| Winner | Hester d'Athon |
| Jockey | Christopher Grosbois |
| Trainer | Alain Couétil |
| Breeding | Doctor Dino x Victoire d'Athom |
| Second | Gazelle d'Authie |
| Third | Génola |
| Settled in mid-field throughout with the four year old filly showing a good attitude at the finish to make headway and fight off rivals for a cosy success to remain unbeaten from two career outings. | |
| Date | Saturday 1 May |
| Venue | Saint Cloud (Good to soft) |
| Race | R4 – G2 Prix Greffulhe (2100m) |
| Type | For three year olds only |
| Winner | Baby Rider |
| Jockey | Stéphane Pasquier |
| Trainer | Pascal Bary |
| Breeding | Gleneagles x Gyrella |
| Second | Smile Makers |
| Third | Martial Eagle |
| Baby Rider gained a hat trick while winning Black type status after the son of Gleneagles was prominent from start to finish. He had to dig deep to overcome Smile Makers as they duelled out the final 400m. This provided Coolmore Stud-based stallion Gleneagles his ninth stakes winner. Baby Rider holds an interesting pedigree with being a sister to 2017 G1 Epsom Derby (2400m) winner Wings Of Eagles (Pour Moi). | |
| Date | Saturday 1 May |
| Venue | Saint Cloud |
| Race | R5 – G2 Prix du Muguet (1600m) |
| Type | For four-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Duhail |
| Jockey | Vincent Cheminaud |
| Trainer | André Fabre |
| Breeding | Lope de Vega x Single |
| Second | Prêtreville |
| Third | Victor Ludorum |
| Duhail was simply the best in the feature at Saint Cloud when the five-year-old gelding drew away by one and a half lengths for a seventh win in thirteen outings. This meant it was an 80th stakes level victory for stallion Lope De Vega. | |
| Date | Saturday 1 May |
| Venue | Saint Cloud |
| Race | R6 – G3 Prix Cléopâtre (2100m) |
| Type | For three-year-old fillies |
| Winner | Harajuku |
| Jockey | Stéphane Pasquier |
| Trainer | André Fabre |
| Breeding | Deep Impact et Phaenomena |
| Second | Incarville |
| Third | Crohanne |
| The three-year-old daughter of Deep Impact accelerated past pace setter Incarville nicely in the final 150m delivering a cosy triumph for a second visit to the winners enclosure in five starts. The late Shadai Stallion station-based stallion, Deep Impact had his 173rd stakes winner with this G3 success. | |
| Date | Sunday 2 May |
| Venue | Longchamp (Good) |
| Race | R2 – Listed Prix Finlande (1800m) |
| Type | For three-year-old fillies |
| Winner | Petricor |
| Jockey | Pierre-Charles Boudot |
| Trainer | Andre Fabre |
| Breeding | Frankel X Ruscombe |
| Second | Sky Sister |
| Third | Roman Bambe |
| The Juddmonte owned-Petricor was off the mark at stakes level when becoming Frankel's 65th individual stakes winner. This Andre Fabre-trained filly was strongly fancied for the Listed contest following a promising second in the G3 Prix Vanteaux (1800m) last month. The daughter of Frankel justified favouritism with a short-neck defeat of Sky Sister. Frankel stands at Juddmonte's Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket for a fee of £175,000 | |
| Date | Sunday 2 May |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | R3 – Listed Prix Du Pont Neuf (1400m) |
| Type | For three-year-olds only |
| Winner | Coachello |
| Jockey/Driver | Olivier Peslier |
| Trainer | Romain Le Dren Doleuze |
| Breeding | Dunkerque X Rock Harmonie |
| Second | Erasmo |
| Third | Go Athletico |
| The daughter of Dunkerque was always well-positioned by Olivier Peslier as the pair sat in second position for much of the journey. The three-year-old gelding quickened up nicely to run out a comfortable winner. Sire Dunkerque was a progressive sprinter in France and a full brother to Group One winner Dedication. He currently stands for a fee of €2,000. | |
| Date | Sunday 2 May |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | R5 – Listed Prix De L'avre (2400m) |
| Type | For three-year-olds only |
| Winner | Fenelon |
| Jockey/Driver | Stephane Pasquier |
| Trainer | N. Clement |
| Breeding | Fastnet Rock X Aigue Marine |
| Second | Soldier Rising |
| Third | The Famous Five |
| The Nicolas Clement-trained Fenelon was held up in the rear for most of the journey but came with a well-timed push to take up the running just past the 300m pole. The son of Fastnet Rock quickly put distance between himself and the rest of the field to run out a comfortable one-and-a-half-length winner. The three-year-old is by a champion Australian sprinter and out of a Galileo mare, Aigue Marine. Fastnet Rock currently stands at Coolmore Stud for a fee of €50,000. | |
| Date | Sunday 2 May |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | R7 – G3 Prix Allex France (2000m) |
| Type | For four-year-old and above (Fillies and mares only) |
| Winner | Ebaiyra |
| Jockey/Driver | Christohpe Soumillon |
| Trainer | Alain de Royer-Dupre |
| Breeding | Distorted Humour X Ebiyza |
| Second | Raabihah |
| Third | All Rumours |
| The Aga Khan-owned four-year-old was keen enough in a race run at a moderate tempo. However, the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained filly still managed to come with a late sustained effort to run down favourite Raabihah. By top US dirt miler Distorted Humour and out of an Aga Khan mare Ebiyza, the already Group One placed filly looks capable of further progression as the season goes on. | |
| Date | Sunday 2 May |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | R8 – G3 Prix de Barbeville (3100m) |
| Type | For four year olds and above |
| Winner | Skazino |
| Jockey/Driver | Mickael Barzalona |
| Trainer | Cedric Rossi |
| Breeding | Kendargent X Skallet |
| Second | Sheraz |
| Third | Karlarina |
| Skazino ran out a ready four-and-a-half length winner of the 3100m G3 on Sunday. Always towards the rear under the patient Mickael Barzalona the pair came with a sustained effort to take up the running past the 450m pole. The son of Kendargent lengthened away nicely to put daylight between himself and the rest of the field. A full brother to the high-class Skaletti the five-year-old looks to be improving with age and should be capable of stepping up in grade in the future. | |
Jump
| Date | Thursday 29 April |
| Venue | Compiègne (Heavy) |
| Race | R1 – Listed Prix Gaston Branère handicap hurdle (2600m) |
| Type | Hurdle, for four-year-olds |
| Winner | Martator |
| Jockey | Paul Moreau |
| Trainer | Joël Boisnard |
| Breeding | Martaline x Tornada |
| Second | Colbert du Berlais |
| Third | Karuso de Gruchy |
| Martator travelled favourably on the inside throughout and jumped to perfection landing this Listed prize. He showed good speed towards the final hurdle and stretched clear from the field for a second success after nine starts to remain unbeaten at the track. | |
| Date | Thursday 29 April |
| Venue | Compiègne |
| Race | R5 – G3 Prix Hopper steeplechase (3800m) |
| Type | Steeplechase, for four-year-olds |
| Winner | Gold Tweet |
| Jockey | Johnny Charron |
| Trainer | Gabriel Leenders |
| Breeding | On Est Bien x Goldance |
| Second | Lina Rez |
| Third | Hawai Tree |
| Gold Tweet came from last to first to win the feature at Compiegne with the added challenge of a loose horse to contend with in the closing stages. However, Johnny Charron steered the gelding to the grandstand rail and powered clear for a twelve-length victory. | |
| Date | Friday 30 April |
| Venue | Auteuil (Very Soft) |
| Race | R1 – Listed Prix Girofla Hurdle (3000m) |
| Type | Hurdle, for three-year old fillies only |
| Winner | Les Yeux Vert |
| Jockey | Gaëtan Masure |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Martaline x Fleurs des Yeux |
| Second | Sideralis |
| Third | Lady Martaline |
| Les Yeux Vert looked a very smart prospect in the opening race at Auteuil drawing clear to win by 20 lengths. The daughter of Martaline now remains unbeaten in two lifetime outings coming both at Auteuil over 3000m including a debut triumph four weeks prior to this eye-catching win. | |
| Date | Friday 30 April |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R2 – Listed Prix Go Ahead Hurdle (3000m) |
| Type | Hurdle, for three-year-old colts only |
| Winner | Impressive |
| Jockey | Johnny Charron |
| Trainer | H&G. Lageneste & Macaire |
| Breeding | Kapgarde x Terrific |
| Second | Tonguetted |
| Third | Latino des Isles |
| Owner, Mme Patrick Papot gained a quick-fire double at Auteuil with Impressive, a five-length winner to keep the perfect record intact – of now three victories from three starts. The three-year-old son of Kapgarde is open to further progress and looks one to note. | |
| Date | Friday 30 April |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R3 – G3 Prix Ingré Chase (4400m) |
| Type | Steeplechase, for five-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Le Berry |
| Jockey | Kévin Nabet |
| Trainer | David Cottin |
| Breeding | Gémix x Kalberry |
| Second | Feu Follet |
| Third | Figuéro |
| Last season's top four-year-old chaser continued the trend of high-grade form when gaining a ninth career success in ten attempts. Despite a small field, the class dominated and there was a decent pace throughout. Le Berry was tested at some of the fences where he had to fully extend out. When the field turned for home, Le Berry appeared to be going best but there was a scare for Kévin Nabet when he stumbled on landing two out. Luckily, he recovered and displayed his superiority fighting back to pass Feu Follet in the last stride. | |
| Date | Friday 30 April |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R4 – G3 Grande Course de Haies de Printemps handicap Hurdle (4300m) |
| Type | Handicap Hurdle, for five-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Gex |
| Jockey | James Reveley |
| Trainer | Emmanuel Clayeux |
| Breeding | Khalkevi x Mexcala |
| Second | King of Run |
| Third | Anouma Freedom |
| Despite being held up behind, Gex got the luck that was required to come down the centre of the track in a wide-open handicap hurdle. As they landed over the last obstacle, there was still six chances but James Reveley's mount had a little extra in the run in to get the better of King of Run. | |
| Date | Friday 30 April |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R6 – G2 Prix Amadou Hurdle (3900m) |
| Type | Hurdle, for four-year-olds |
| Winner | Hermès Baie |
| Jockey | Bertrand Lestrade |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Crillon et Ludmika |
| Second | Raffles Face |
| Third | Gallipoli |
| Hermès Baie continued to show promise landing his fourth victory from seven racecourse appearances. This time Bertrand Lestrade made a bold decision to be the only one to be on the inside of the track down the back straight which paid off at the finish. In the final 600m, the leading trio opened by fifteen lengths and proved a class above the rest. Hermès Baie however quickened again and proved one of the best four year old Hurdlers in France | |
| Date | Friday 30 April |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R9 – Listed Prix Philippe Ménager Steeplechase (4400m) |
| Type | Steeplechase, for four-year-olds only |
| Winner | Yes Indeed |
| Jockey | James Reveley |
| Trainer | H&G. Lageneste & Macaire |
| Breeding | Martaline x She Hates Me |
| Second | Hades |
| Third | Chorail Debelair |
| Yes Indeed jumped beautifully to take the final race on the programme despite James Reveley needing to knuckle down on the four year old to justify strong market support. | |
Trotting
| Date | Tuesday 27 April 2021 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R5 – G2 Sulky Summer Races 3 Ans – Qualifier one (Prix Paul Karle) (2100m) |
| Type | Driven, for three-year-old colts |
| Winner | Italiano Vero |
| Driver | David Thomain |
| Trainer | Philippe Allaire |
| Breeding | Ready Cash x Baraka d'Henlou |
| Second | Idéal Ligneries |
| Third | In The Money |
| The three-year-old son of Ready Cash almost made all under David Thomain justifying strong market support and gaining a seventh success from eleven career outings. A narrow margin was secured over the persistent challenge of Idéal Ligneries. The progressive Italiano Vero recorded a kilometre rating of 1"12"2. | |
| Date | Tuesday 27 April |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R7 – G2 Sulky Summer Races 3 Ans – Qualifier two (Prix Masina) (2100m) |
| Type | Driven autostart for three-year-old fillies |
| Winner | It's Now or Never |
| Driver | Franck Nivard |
| Trainer | Philippe Allaire |
| Breeding | Charly du Noyer x Deep Purple |
| Second | Inoubliable |
| Third | Illusive Artist |
| Three-year-old daughter of Charly du Noyer, It's Now or Never recorded a fourth career success in eleven attempts. She produced a great fourth in the G1 Prix Comte Pierre de Montesson (2700m) at the Winter Meeting and appears to be one to keep in mind. | |
| Date | Wednesday 28 April |
| Venue | Maure-de-Bretagne |
| Race | R1 – G3 Grand Prix de Maure-de-Bretagne (Grand National du Trot) (2850m) |
| Type | Driven, for five- to ten-year-olds |
| Winner | Crack Money |
| Driver | Cédric Terry |
| Trainer | Patrick Terry |
| Breeding | Singalo x Quiona |
| Second | Epsom d'Herfraie |
| Third | Golden Bridge |
| Crack Money proved age was no barrier gaining a seventeenth career success at the age of nine from 43 attempts. Always close to the pace he had a clear route to burst home in the final 200m overcoming Epsom d'Herfraie in the final strides. | |
| Date | Friday 30 April |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R5 – G3 Prix Antigone (2850m) |
| Type | Mounted, for five- to ten-year-olds |
| Winner | Freeman de Houelle |
| Driver | Eric Raffin |
| Trainer | Franck Leblanc |
| Breeding | Vigove et Rafina de Houelle |
| Second | Byrh Gédé |
| Third | Edition Géma |
| Barefooted six-year-old, Freeman de Houelle continued Eric Raffin's flying form on Friday afternoon at Vincennes. (Where he had four winners). There was a strong pace throughout but Freeman de Houelle kicked clear inside the final 400m to be a comprehensive winner and gain a hat trick after success in the G3 Prix Cornelia (2850m) and the G2 Prix Louis Forcinal (2700m). | |
| Date | Sunday 2 May |
| Venue | Argentan |
| Race | R8 – G2 Critérium de Vitesse de Basse-Normandie (1609m) |
| Type | Autostart driven, International for four- to ten-year-olds |
| Winner | Ce Bello Romain |
| Driver | Mathieu Mottier |
| Trainer | Sylvain Gérard Dupont |
| Breeding | Jam Pridem x Miss Echo Bella |
| Second | Valokaja Hindö |
| Third | Digne et Droit |
| One of the biggest events of the year at Argentan did not disappoint with a great finish to this Group Two contest. Nine-year-old, Ce Bello Romain was always prominent tracking Bahia Quesnot (who eventually finished fourth) and in the home straight, Mathieu Mottier had a clear passage on the outside to sweep past the field in an eye-catching manner. The gelding had a successful Winter including at Vincennes with a success in the G3 Prix du Plateau de Gravelle (2100m). | |
