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News In Brief of French Racing.
This past weekend saw two sires dominate when providing trotting winners – Ready Cash who sired five between Friday and Sunday (including Face Time Bourbon) and three for Royal Dream (two at Vincennes and one at Nantes). Other sires also of note included Coktail Jet and Bold Eagle both with two winners. Significantly, for Bold Eagle both successes were in the colts and fillies G2 four-year-old trial races for the upcoming G1 Criterium Continental (2100m), four-year-olds – namely with Gu d'Héripré and Green Grass.
Driver Christophe Martins commenced the Cagnes-sur-Mer Winter Meeting with three winners at the opening programme last Saturday – Fresneaux, Hiosco d'Olmen (both trained by his brother Vincent) and Girl des Mottes for leading southern districts-based trainer Yannick-Alain Briand. The next meeting is scheduled this Thursday.
On 22 November Bahia Quesnot finished third in the Qualif 1 - Prix de Bretagne, thereby ensuring a place in the G1 Grand Prix d'Amerique (2700m) on 31 January. Connections then opted to race the nine-year-old mare successfully in Naples (ITY) in the G1 Grand Premio Royal Mares. With over 100 career starts, she has been well travelled having won across France and successfully campaigned in Scandinavia.
In provincial trotting news, there was plenty of success for well-bred two-year-olds at the weekend. If I Tell You gave trainer Phillippe Allaire his twenty-ninth two-year-old success for the season. Another winner with strong bloodlines was Illawara, by Bold Eagle. At Nantes Idéale du Chêne, by Bird Parker and closely related to Comtesse du Chêne, a G3 winner, scored whilst Idéal San Leandro secured victory at Grenade-sur-Garonne, a race won by his sire Timoko.
Twice G1 winning filly Watch Me has been retired. Her first mating will be with France's leading sire Siyouni. Winner of the G1 Coronation Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot in 2019, she also won the G1 Prix Rothschild (1600m) at Deauville in August. From nine starts, she won five times and was placed on two other occasions.
The two Jerome Reynier trained horses Royal Julius and Skalleti both disappointed in their Group One races at Sha Tin, Hong Kong on Sunday. Royal Julius competed in the Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and after sitting third, failed to accelerate finishing last. The race was won by the Ballydoyle Aidan O'Brien trained Mogul, winner of this years' G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) at Longchamp in September. Skaletti raced in the G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m). After missing the start, he settled toward the rear of the field however failed to make up ground. Third choice in the market, the firm track may have gone against him. The race was won by the Japanese five-year-old mare Normcore.
Record breaking mare One Master – thrice winner of the G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m) – has been retired. Her first stallion mating is to be with Dubawi who stands at fee of £250,000. Winner of seven of her twenty-three race starts she was trained by Newmarket (UK) based William Haggas.
Christophe Soumillon missed riding at the Hong Kong International Meeting on Sunday and, whilst now cleared of covid-19, Hong Kong Officials have confirmed he will not be permitted to ride until next Sunday, 20 December. A Licence has been issued for him to ride in the Territory until 14 February.
Frenchman Jonathan Carré notched up his 200th career winner in Sweden last week at Axevalla. Moving to the Scandinavian country in 2016, this year has been his most successful with twenty-six victories to date. He commenced his career in 2003 in France and is best known as a mounted rider (127 wins 2003-2016) landing victories in nine G2 races before moving to Sweden.
Last Thursday the son of Jean-Michel Baudouin, Gauthier, drove his first winner Espoir de Toues. Aged 16, he recorded the victory at Vincennes on his fourth career drive. He had only been driving for one week.
