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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 28th July 2021.
This week's news-in-brief covers a win in Germany for Skalleti, retirement for Golden Rasja and a first winner for stallion Eridan...
Skalleti
Skalleti (Kendargent) secured back-to-back Group One successes with an easy victory in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (2000m) at Munich on Sunday for Jérôme Reynier and Gérald Mossé. This was a twelfth stakes winner for the trainer in 2021 who will now aim the six-year-old grey towards the G2 Prix Dollar (1950m) at Longchamp but will keep options open with an entry in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m) towards the end of August. This should have him spot on for his long-term target – the G1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Ascot in October, a race he finished runner-up to Addeybb (Pivotal) last season. Skalleti was bred by Haras de Colleville owner Guy Pariente out of Skallet, a Listed-winning daughter of Muhaymin (A.P. Indy) who has also been successful with Kendargent to produce Group Two-winning stayer Skazino.
Golden Rajsa
It was a notable triumph in the Prix de la Vénus de Paris handicap last week for Golden Rajsa (Rajsaman), who got up in the final strides to win an eighth career race for her trainer and owner, Pauline Mengès and jockey Axelle Nicco. The pregnant grey seven-year-old is now set for her second career as a broodmare.
Mickaëlle Michel
The globetrotting French jockey Mickaëlle Michel has been selected to represent the Ladies Team in for Shergar Cup, staged at Ascot next Saturday. She was the leading female rider in France in 2018 and has subsequently competed in the World All-Star Jockeys Championship in Sapporo in 2019. This will be another opportunity to showcase her riding ability on the world stage.
Chrono Genesis
Current UK Champion Jockey, Oisin Murphy, has been confirmed to ride top Japanese mare Chrono Genesis (Bago) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m). Murphy will replace the injured Yuichi Kitamura on the five-year-old grey who won the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) last month. The pair will bid to give Japan a first success in Europe's greatest race. The jockey has been a revelation in Japan since riding in the Far East during the previous few winters, and famously secured the G1 Nassau Stakes (2000m) for trainer Mitsuru Hashida at Goodwood in 2019 with the popular Deirdre (Harbinger). That was the first Japanese horse to win at Group One level in the UK for nineteen years.
Van Gogh
Last season's Saint-Cloud G1 Critérium International (1600m) winner, Van Gogh (American Pharoah), who placed once in four starts as a three-year-old at Group One level this term, has been retired to stand at East Stud in Japan. The Aidan O-Brien-trained colt was bred by David and Diane Nagle at Barronstown Stud and is the twelfth foal out of the dual Classic winner Imagine (Sadler's Wells), who has produced five Stakes winners including Viscount Nelson (Giant's Causeway) and Kitty Matcham (Rock Of Gibraltar).
Adrien Lacombe
Former jockey for Guillaume Macaire, for whom he rode 120 winners, and trained in Senonnes since 2001, has retired. His first starter at Erbray in 2002, was a winning one as Kamikaz du Lac scored under Romain Dubois. His most celebrated winner was arguably Bon Augure (My Risk), who won ten of his 20 outings, including victory in the G2 Prix des Drags (4400m) at Auteuil in 2017.
Jacinda
Jérôme Reynier will send Jacinda (Aclaim) on her travels to Italy on Saturday for the Listed Critérium Varesino (1500m) at Le Bottole. A winner of her previous couple of claiming starts at Agen and Marseille-Borely, this will be a big jump in class for the two-year-old though has been a target for connections, attempting to earn some black type.
Accakaba
The unbeaten two-year-old Accakaba (Acclamation) is likely to step up in grade after winning a Listed event on her third career outing. Her options include a couple of Deauville targets – the G2 Prix du Calvados (1400m) or a tilt at the highest level in the G1 Prix Morny (1200m) – which the latter is expected to suit on breeding, as her dam, Yakaba (Medicean), was a Group Three winner over the 1200m distance.
Nathalie Henry
Six-time Group One-winning rider, including a pair of G1 Prix du President de la Republique (2850m) triumphs, Nathalie Henry, rode her first winner since returning to the sport. She had decided to stop riding and concentrate on motherhood, gradually returning to the track this Spring. Nathalie Henry guided For No One (Rocklyn) to the winner's enclosure at La Ferté-Vidame in a minor mounted event which was her first success in seven and a half years.
Le Trophée Vert
The latest stage of the driven competition on grass was won by Clarck Sotho (Firebird), who repelled all rivals, racing in a storm at La Gacilly last Sunday. This was a first career success on the grass, but he had previously finished runner-up at Royan last season prior to a fourth placing in the final. Craon will stage the conclusion of the event on September 6.
Wonderful Tonight
David Menuisier's star four-year-old filly was a late withdrawal in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m) at Ascot last Saturday on ground which was deemed to quick for the daughter of Le Havre. She is entered to run in the G2 Lillie Langtry (2816m) at Goodwood this Saturday, where she will be a short-priced favourite. The big target remains the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m).
Pierre-Louis Jamin
The French apprentice secured a first treble of his career, courtesy of Korker (Dandy Man), Flaming Rib (Ribchester) and Restless Endeavor (Dandy Man), for three different trainers this week at Thirsk in the UK. He has ridden mainly for his UK boss Karl Burke since the start of the calendar year but has acquired numerous strong contacts after thirteen winners in this campaign.
Palace Pier
Palace Pier (Kingman) has sidestepped a showdown with dual Group One winner Poetic Flare (Dawn Approach) at Goodwood this week, due to a blood disorder. The top-rated British-based horse in the world will head to Deauville to contest the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m) next month, a race the son of Kingman won in 2020.
Sébastien Guarato
On Wednesday evening at Sables-d'Olonne, Sébastien Guarato trained his 2000th winner courtesy of Hokio (Bolero Love), driven by Eric Raffin. The 49-year-old, who trains in Normandy, has cared for some of the most celebrated trotters in recent times, including the imperious dual G1 Prix d'Amerique (2700m) winner Face Time Bourbon (Ready Cash), 21-time Group One winner Bold Eagle (Ready Cash), globetrotting star mare Billie de Montfort (Jasmine de Flore) and many others.
Serge Peltier
Absent since June 30, suffering from broken ribs, trainer-jockey Serge Peltier made a winning return to the track securing victory in the fifth race at Saint-Galmier last week with Harmonia The Best (Uriel Speed).
Eridan
Young stallion, Eridan (Ready Cash), gained a first success when his son Jaguar Wit scored debuting at Bréhal last Monday. The Philippe Allaire-trained colt qualified at Caen on May 27.
Fortissimoko
Dutch trainer Jan Van Dooyeweerd gained a 100th career victory in France when Forissimoko (The Best Madrik) crossed the line first at Langon. Optimistic (Incredible Crafts) remains his best horse to date having triumphed eight times in France.
Primo Bacio
The Ed Walker-trained Primo Bacio (Awtaad) aims to avenge an unlucky run in the G1 Falmouth Stakes (1600m) at Newmarket. She is heading to the G1 Prix Rothschild (1600m) at Deauville next month with excellent claims to breakthrough at the top level.
