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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting.
Face Time Bourbon
Last Sunday saw French champion, Face Time Bourbon go back-to-back in the G1 Grand Prix d'Amérique (2700m). The Sébastien Guarato trained six-year-old, driven by Björn Goop, set a record kilometre rating of 1'10"8. Positioned wide by Goop early, the pair made their move turning for home and readily went clear of challenger Davidson Du Pont, who finished two lengths back in second for the second year in a row. The promising five-year-old, Gu d'Heripre ran on strongly for third.
Other Prix d'Amerique News
Shoes on/shoes off is an important gear adjustment for French trotting. In France, punters look closely when a change occurs. For this year's Prix d'Amérique of the eighteen runners fourteen raced barefoot and four with no rear shoes (Gu d'Héripré, Feliciano, Chica de Joudes and Billie de Montfort). For the past two running's of the race, all horses raced barefoot. Another footnote, Gu d'Héripré wore small irons stuck to the front' following problems in his final lead-up race two weeks ago in the Prix de Belgique.
As both a competitor and stallion, Ready Cash has had a significant influence on the Prix d'Amérique during this past decade. Twice winner of the race in 2011 and 2012, he went on to sire five of the past six winners - Bold Eagle (2016 and 2017), Readly Express (2018) and Face Time Bourbon (2020 and 2021). He was also represented in this years' race with Feliciano. Greyhound is the only other stallion to have sired the winner four times – and that was with the same horse – the great Ourasi (1986-88 and 1990).
Zacon Gio vs Face Time Bourbon
Sebastien Guarato, trainer of Face Time Bourbon did not flinch when he was told Italian rival, Zacon Gio, the only horse to have beaten his stable star, was to contest the G1 Grand Prix de France (2100m) - Speed Race in two weeks' time. The trainer remarked that the outcome could be different competing at this venue. Vincennes is a much bigger track compared to the circuits where Zacon Gio previously defeated Face Time Bourbon. Zacon Gio has not raced since 7 December in the race won by Billie de Montfort over 2020m where the time recorded was 1'13"5.
Two Lucky Punters!
Pont-à-Mousson (in France) was the place to be for lucky punters last week as two people in the same street took home a combined 1.3 million euros. On Sunday one punter collected his winning ticket in French Jackpot race, known as the Quinté + landing the prize where the punter must select the first five home in the correct order. On this day, it was on the G1 Grand Prix de Cornulier and the Bar-PMU la Gauloise was where the winning ticket was played – and the prize was a staggering € 725,000. Three days earlier, a player had bought at the neighbouring bar a winning scratch ticket of € 500,000.
Caliph
The 30-year-old Caliph (Freedom Cry) has recently passed away. Born in Côtes d'Armor, this son of Freedom Cry, nred by Denis Milin, started off life winning as a two-year-old in the provinces prior to climbing the ladder. Notable successes include: the G3 Prix d'Hédouville (2400m) and the G2 Prix Jean de Chaudenay (2400m), runner-up in the 2002 G2 Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m) and a memorable fourth place in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m). Not only successful on the track. Caliph produced several G1 winners as a stallion including: Carriacou, Adrien du Pont, Blue Dragon, Cilaos Emery and Clarcam.
Van Beethoven
The globetrotting Van Beethoven is expected to attract breeders looking for precocity in his debut season. The attractive son of Scat Daddy will be resident at Haras de Grandcamp, where he will stand for a fee of 6,000 euros.
City Light
The first offspring by Group winning sprinter and G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m) runner-up City Light has been born. Described as a strong filly out of Havaianas, she was born at Haras d'Etreham.
Slade Power
Few double G1 winning sprinters in England make the switch to France as a stallion but Slade Power will stand at a Stud Farm in Tiercé (near Durtal and Lion-d'Angers) from 2021. Winner of the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) and G1 July Cup (1200m), Slade Power has already produced the speedy Raffle Prize trained in the UK by Mark Johnston. A standout two-year-old filly in 2019 she scored in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes (1000m) and the G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (1200m), before finishing runner-up in both the G1 Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville (to Earthlight) and in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes (1200m). The son of Dutch Art will stand for a fee of 3,000 euros.
The Brivido
The Brivido (Siyouni), who arrived this year at the Haie Neuve and stands at a fee of 5,000 euros, started his stallion career last year at Overbury Stud, England. Haras d'Ellon, owned by Thierry de La Heronnière, produced the stallion's first male foal, a colt out of Espionne (George Vancouver) who is a full- sister to the good Petite Parisian (Montmartre).
Policy Of Truth
The Pierre Brandt trained Policy Of Truth looks set to follow the direction of classic trials according to a representative of Logis Saint-Germain. Winner of the G3 Prix des Chenes (1600m) and fourth in the G1 Criterium International (1600m) the son of Siyouni looks a top-class prospect entering his upcoming three-year-old career.
Call The Wind and Another Sky
Freddy Head announces that stable star Call The Wind will bid to defend his crown in The Long Distance Turf Handicap (3000m) at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later this month. The trainer also gave an update on the half-brother to Almanzor, Another Sky. He stated the plan was to take their time with the four-year-old and suggests he has returned a 'brand new horse' ahead of the 2021 season.
Propulsion
The situation with controversial horse Propulsion remains unresolved. The problem came about a neurectomy not being recorded in Europe (it occurred in the USA). The horse has now returned to the US and is a resident stallion at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey. Is his offspring recognised in Europe is the question? Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany and Austria are yet to confirm their stud-book position whilst in Sweden, Propulsion is accredited in Stud-Book B (however, this excludes the classic races) but not in stud-book A (with classic races). More on this story will follow during the coming months.
Four French Horses Set to Race in Australia
Australian based syndicators OTI announced four of their horses have now been moved from France to Australia. This is not unusual as many of their runners are purchased in Europe and conduct initial racing in France before continuing their careers 'down-under'. The horses that have emigrated include Aettantepui (second in the Listed Prix Joubert and in Italy won the G2 Italian Oaks).
Montabot was originally raced by Gerard Augustin-Normand before being sold to OTI in 2019 whilst two Aga Khan graduates Ashim and Vardani, both trained by Alain de Royer Dupre and purchased through the sales ring, will also depart to Australia.
