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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 25th May 2022.
This weeks News In Brief features some interesting breeding information from Juddmonte Farms alongside an update of this years' Saudi Cup winner, Emblem Road...
Flat
2006 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rail Link has died aged 19 after suffering a heart attack at his home for the past two years, Haras de Vains. Raced by Prince Khalid Abdullah and trained by André Fabre, he did not commence his racing career until a three-year-old. Apart from the 'Arc' he also won the G1 Grand Prix de Paris as well as the Prix Niel (Gr2) and the Prix du Lys (Gr3). Following his retirement, he stood at Banstead Manor Stud in England until 2014 where he joined Haras de Cercy servicing more than 500 mares. He sired two Group One winners Epicuris, winner of the Critérium de Saint-Cloud and Spillway, winner of the Australian Cup at Flemington.
Emblem Road, winner of this years' Saudi Cup, and trained in Riyadh by Mitab Almulawah, has travelled to France where he will be based for his international campaign.
This Saturday, May 28, will be a day of celebration at the racecourse of Bordeaux-Le Bouscat. It will be the running of the 100th edition of the Grand Prix de Bordeaux (L), the fourth stage of the Défi du Galop, and the 166th Derby du Midi (L).
Juddmonte Farms continues to invest having bought from Tinnakill House the 10-year-old broodmare Repose who was by Quiet American and dam of triple Gr1 winner on three different continents, State of Rest. Also purchased was the winner of the Blue Wind Stakes (Gr3), Tranquil Lady. In a Press Release from Dermot Cantillon and Meta Osborne they said "We are pleased to announce that Juddmonte bought Repose, a broodmare bred in Tinnakill. Her success is to be credited to Ian Thompson and the whole team. The story started when we kept Repose, which became one of the most promising broodmares in the world. We decided to keep her foal filly by Sea the Stars". She is currently in foal to Frankel. Last year Juddmonte invested 6.24 million euros buying seven yearlings and foals at sales and a mare, the Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed Nay Lady Nay.
Jump
The dispersal sale of twenty-one horses from the estate of the late Magalen Bryant took place at St Cloud last Saturday. All changed hands for a total turnover of €1,043,000. Following the sale her daughter KC Graham said, "This is a very special day for us, full of emotion. What can I say, we are very happy with the results of this sale. The horses sold well, they were eagerly awaited and it's a great tribute to our mother and to David Powell. We loved David's genius, to whom we owe today's results." Just A Princess knocked down for €260,000, making her the top price of the day. The daughter of Ivanhowe is from the close family of Listed winner Victoria's Star that has notably produced Group placed Iamastar and Listed placed Just A Star.
Trotting
Chica de Joudes has been retired and will leave Alain Laurent's stables, a place where she has been domiciled her entire career. Final start was in the Prix Jean Riaud (Gr.3) on 9 April, finishing sixth. Winner of sixteen races and €890,770 in prizemoney, Chica de Joudes last secured a victory at Vincennes during the Winter Meeting in the Prix des Cévennes (Gr.3). She ran in three Prix d'Amérique Legend Races (Gr.1), best when finishing fourth in 2020. As a broodmare she has been served by Italiano Véro who is by Ready Cash.
Yoann Lebourgeois recorded a memorable weekend with five winners – one at Caen (Get Lovely Délo) followed by four at the provincial track of Gournay-en-Bray (Jedi, Hotot, Junior Angèle, Icecold) the same course where he drove three winners on the April 30 meeting. During the past six weeks he has been able to achieve four winners per meeting on four occasions.
Over this past weekend, apart from Yoann Lebourgeois with twelve drives for five wins and one placing, Alexis Collette also landed four winners from eleven drives.
