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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 16th June 2021.

This week's news-in-brief includes Blé du Gers in Oslo, a Royal Ascot contender, the Kymi Grand Prix 2021 plus updates on potential runners for this week's feature French race, the G1 Prix De Diane (2100m) at Chantilly...

Blé du Gers  

Blé du Gers at the age of ten found success for the second time in the G1 Oslo Grand Prix (2100m) at Bjerke for driver Asbjörn Tengsareid and French trainer Jean-Michel Rancoule where he won this Group One twelve months previous. This was a third victory at the highest level for the son of Quinoa du Gers after success last July in the G1 Ulf Thoresen Grand International (2100m) at Jarlsberg.    

Ganay de Banville  

Five-year-old, Ganay de Banville recorded his first Group Two triumph when winning the G2 Sulky Summer Races 5 Ans Qualif 4 - Prix Louis Jariel (2175m) last Saturday at Vincennes. He produced the fourth fastest time in the feature race for trainer and driver, Jean-Michel Bazire, with a kilometre rating of 1'10''7 (overall race record is 1'10''4). The G1 Critérium des 5 Ans (3000m) at the beginning of September could be a likely target.    

Suesa  

Suesa is likely to take up her engagement at Royal Ascot this week contesting the G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) on Friday. The three-year-old Night of Thunder filly is unbeaten in four starts, all coming over a similar trip as the Royal Ascot target and all have been run at Chantilly. This will be another step up in class, but she has already proven herself at Stakes level when victorious in the Listed Prix Yacowlef (1100m), the G3 Prix Sigy (1100m) and when carrying a penalty in the G3 Prix Texanita (1200m) last month.   

Illico des Places  

Illico des Places has been moved from the François Nicolle yard last week after an impressive eighteen length debut success at Châteaubriant last month in the Prix d'Enghien conditions hurdle (3550m). The promising three-year-old by Jeu St Eloi will join Tom Symonds in England.   

Kymi Grand Prix 2021  

This Saturday (19th) will see the latest renewal of the International G1 Kymi Grand Prix 2021 (2100m) at Kouvola (Finland) where there will be significant French interest including the Jean-Michel Bazire trained ten-year-old, Valokaja Hindö, nine-year-old Ce Bello Romain who is drawn three (winner of the G2 Critérium de Vitesse de Basse-Normandie (1609m) at Argentan last month) as well as five-year-old son of Bold Eagle, Aetos Kronos (winner of the G2 Prix Bold Eagle (2100m) in January, part of the Vincennes winter meeting). Délia du Pommereux, successful in last month's G1 Paralympiatravet Final (2140m) at Aby has drawn eight.  

Sibila Spain  

Three-year-old daughter of Frankel, Sibila Spain has been supplemented for this weekend's feature race in France, the G1 Prix De Diane (2100m) on Sunday (20th) at Chantilly. This comes after her creditable fourth in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary (2000m) at Longchamp three weeks ago. She has shown plenty of promise, but the ground could be a question mark for connections.  

Alter Adler  

The three-year-old son of Adlerflug, Alter Adler is considered by some to be the favourite for the G1 German Derby (2400m) on Sunday 4 July at Hamburg. He has placed twice and won twice from four career attempts including winning latest at Saint-Cloud in the Class One Prix Aveu (2400m) last week. However, trainer Waldemar Hickst has not yet confirmed his participation.  

Amazing Grace  

The winner of the G2 Wetten Dass 20.21 Diana Trial (2000m) last month at Berlin-Hoppegarten (Germany) Amazing Grace, could be seen next, as soon as this Sunday in the G1 Prix De Diane (2100m) at Chantilly. Trainer Waldemar Hickst makes the final decision in the coming days. The daughter of Protectionist has shown promise in five career starts and holds previous French form including when second on debut at the same venue as this weekend's possible target. 

Go On Boy  

Go On Boy returned for a new campaign last week when scoring on Tuesday at Mons (Belgium) in the International Prix Mémorial José Dezette (2300m). The five-year-old was last seen in February when a fair fifth in the G2 Prix Ovide Moulinet (2700m) at Vincennes. He posted a good time in the Mons event with a kilometre rating of 1'12''1. There are multiple potential future targets including at Enghien throughout the upcoming months along with the Grand-National du Trot on Wednesday 23 June at Toulouse and the G1 Prix René Ballière (2100m) at Vincennes. These could lead to the ultimate goal being the G1 Critérium des 5 Ans (3000m) on Saturday 4 September.  

I Love Me

I Love Me won her second Group Three when scoring the G3 Prix d'Istres (2700m) last Saturday at Vincennes. The daughter of Love You could be next targeted for the G1 Sulky 3 Ans Final - Prix Albert Viel in two weeks.