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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 14th April 2021.
This week's round-up covers two Poule d'Essai trial races at Deauville, an exciting renewal of G2 Prix Murat and trotting action from Angers...
Flat
Monday saw nine go to post for the Listed Prix Right Royal (3000m) at Chantilly. The Francis-Henri Graffard trained four-year-old Big Five remained unbeaten in five starts following an impressive staying victory under Olivier Peslier. The son of Frankel looks to have a big future ahead of him and a step-up in grade looks imminent. Connections have targeted a 3100m G3 at Longchamp in early May as his next start.
All eyes were on Philomène on Tuesday as she took on four rivals in the G3 Prix Penelope (2100m) at Saint-Cloud. The Godolphin owned daughter of Dubawi arrived with a lofty reputation after making a splashing impact on her debut at Longchamp last season.
Mickael Barzalona positioned his filly one from the rear but as the field moved into the straight, she quickly looked to have the field covered. This Andre Fabre-trained three-year-old quickened smartly and with entries in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) and G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) it is clear she is held in some regard.
The trainer is yet to reveal future plans, but it would certainly be surprising were the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) and/or the G1 Prix Saint-Alary not on the agenda.
Two important Group Three Poule d'Essai trial races were on the card at Deauville on Thursday, with the first, the G3 Prix Djebel (1400m) seeing eight three-year-olds go to post. The Yann Barberot-trained son of Iffraaj, Fast Raaj, always caught the eye travelling strongly off the pace. Gregory Benoist timed his challenge to perfection as the promising three-year-old colt saw off the challenge of Pimento. Prince Lancelot was a further three-lengths behind in third.
The second Group Three of the day provided an intriguing field of eight lining up for the G3 Prix Imprudence (1400m). A race for three-year-old fillies, the Mauricio Delcher Sanchez- trained daughter of Kingman ran out a cosy winner after having to wait for the gaps to appear. The ice cool Christophe Soumillon never panicked, and the promising filly would go on to secure a first Group-race success. It will be interesting to see just how far she can go but an entry in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) suggests loftier targets could be on the horizon.
There was a high-class card at Longchamp on Sunday with five black-type races on offer. The action kicked off as a field of eight lined up for the G3 Prix La Force (1800m). Well-positioned in third by Maxime Guyon the Freddy Head-trained colt Adhamo eased to the front with 350m to go. The son of Intello stuck to the task well coming away to score by three-lengths. Erasmo filled the runner-up spot and whilst King Shalaa lost his unbeaten record, he did suffer interference in running. The winner holds notable entries in the G1 Grand Prix De Paris (2400m) and the G1 Prix Du Jockey Club (2100m).
Rumi battled to success in the G3 Prix Vanteaux (1800m) under a well-judged ride from Olivier Peslier. Always towards the fore the pair travelled up strongly before seeing off a late challenge from Petricor. The daughter of Frankel holds entries in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) along with the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) and looks an exciting prospect for the future.
High-class performer Skaletti added the G2 Prix d'Harcourt (2000m) to his CV. The Jerome Reynier-trained six-year-old was last seen taking the G3 Prix Exbury (2000m) on his reappearance at Saint-Cloud, a race that has proven a perfect steppingstone to the G2 Prix d'Harcourt (2000m) in the past. Starting a short-priced favourite, Skalleti was held up and came wide to challenge under Gerald Mosse, picking up nicely for an easy one length success. Mare Australis finished second with Monty running on for third.
Solsticia brought up a double on the card for owner-breeders the Wertheimer Brothers as she ran out a narrow-margin winner of the Listed Prix Zarkava (2100m). The Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old saved plenty of ground under Maxime Guyon and the daughter of Le Havre showed a likeable attitude to beat the fast-finishing Control Tower. Noble Music finished in third.
Victory looked unlikely for Cheshire Academy in the G3 Prix Noailles (2100m) for most of the way however he ran on strongly to snatch success from Pretty Tiger under Cristian Demuro. Jean-Claude Rouget's son of Flintshire looks sure to appreciate a step up in distance with entries in the G1 Grand Prix De Paris (2400m) and the G1 Prix Du Jockey Club (2100m) suggesting larger targets may await.
Jumps
The jumps action continued with the G3 Prix Journaliste (4100m) steeplechase taking centre stage at Compiegne last Wednesday. It was the popular Francois Nicolle-trained Edgeoy who came out on top running home a comfortable six-length winner. Always well-positioned on the inside by the talented Angelo Zuliani the seven-year-old quickened up smartly. He should continue to remain competitive in similar group races throughout the summer.
There was a good card at Auteuil on Saturday, kicking off with the G3 Hurdle Prix De Pepinvast (3600m). Runner-up in the G3 Prix D'Indy (3600m) over course and distance, Haut Les Cours would go one place better here showing his rivals a clean pair of heels for a nine-length success. Held up off a strong pace by Lucas Zuliani the son of Saddler Maker comfortably passed rivals going strongly. The lightly raced four-year-old is yet to look the finished article and should have plenty of more to offer going forward.
The feature G2 Prix Murat (4200m) steeplechase would return to the stable of David Cottin as the classy son of No Risk At All, Ajas, was to see off the Louisa Carberry-trained Docteur De Ballon. Victory looked to be plain sailing for the strong travelling Ajas approaching the last, but Kevin Nabet was made to get serious as the high-class Docteur De Ballon threw down a strong challenge up the run in. The pair drew eleven-lengths clear of the third, Eddy De Balme, in what looked a solid renewal of the Group Two contest.
Corazones ran out a two-length winner of the Listed Prix Jean Granel (3900m) under jockey Regis Schmidlin. The nine-year-old was always well-positioned and ran on strongly to gain a well-deserved second success at Listed level. Garasil finished runner-up whilst Je Deviens Moi, was back in third.
Trotting
There was G3 action from Angers on Wednesday in the shape of the Grand Prix Angers Loire Metropole (3100m). It was the Philippe Allaire-trained ten-year-old Bugsy Malone who continues his fine form, running out a comfortable winner. The success saw a thirty-third career victory from just seventy-three starts.
The Tomas Malmqvist-trained three-year-old Invictus Madiba showed improved form to follow-up his Enghien success with victory in the mobile G3 Prix de Saintes (2100m) at Vincennes on Saturday. Adrien Lamy always had his mount well-positioned throughout and the unexposed son of Booster Winner quickened up for a smooth win. Ikacou Des Cinty finished in second with Iron Meslois completing for third.
The feature G2 mounted Prix Théophile Lallouet (2700m) went the way of Clegs Des Champs on Saturday taking his career strike-rate to a remarkable 50% from forty-two starts. Steered home by David Thomain the pair kicked clear entering the straight running out a comfortable winner. Boss du Meleuc battled on for second whilst Délicieux du Cébé finished in third.
