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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 26th May 2021.
This week's News In Brief includes the latest international G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) entries, French challengers in the G1 Elitloppet (1609m) at Solvalla and a first driven success for a previous three-time Tour de France stage winner…
G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe entries
Verry Elleegant (Zed) was not among the 101 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) hopefuls at the latest entry stage for the highlight of the French racing calendar in October. A tilt at the premier event was discussed by connections after his impressive victory ahead of Addeybb (Pivotal) in the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in March in Australia at Rosehill. However, it has been decided that the eight-time G1 winner will instead be targeting the G1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 23. International entries included six Japanese raiders, including last month's G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) winner Lei Papale (Deep Impact) and three-time G1 winner Chrono Genesis (Bago).
Derby Italiano
Tokyo Gold (Kendargent) won the G2 Derby Italiano (2200m) at Rome last Sunday with an easy success by four-and-a-half lengths for trainer Satoshi Kobayashi, ridden by Cristian Demuro, delivering Kendargent's fourteenth individual Group victory in the process. The fifth foal out of Biancarosa, a Listed-winning Dalakhani mare for Teruya Yoshida, Tokyo Gold is a brother to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (2000m) third Notte Bianca. The popular sire, Kendargent, has enjoyed a good start to his 2021 campaign. Skalleti won the G2 Prix d'Harcourt (2000m) and G3 Prix Exbury (2000m), while Skazino struck in the G3 Prix de Barbeville (3100m) at Longchamp earlier this month, before winning the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier Stakes (3100m) in impressive style on Monday (May 24).
Glenall
The two-year-old, Glenall (Coulsty), finished a close third in the Listed Prix des Revers d'Or – Jacques Bouchara (1000m) at Vichy on her third outing last week. Trained by Gavin Hernon, she now has the option of heading to Royal Ascot for the G3 Albany Stakes (1200m) or the G3 Prix Bois, now over 1200m at Deauville. A third entry will be given to the Listed Prix la Flèche (1000m).
Khalidiya
Khalidiya (Oasis Dream) made no mistake in winning second time out in a Longchamp maiden over 2000m last week, confirming the promise of a debut second behind subsequent Listed winner Burgarita (Sea The Stars). Alain de Royer Dupré mentioned the high regard he holds for this filly, who could be aimed at G1 level, possibly in the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) at Chantilly on Sunday 20 June.
International jockeys
Louis Philippe Beuzelin won the third race of the Kranji meeting in Singapore on Saturday, May 22, onboard Tom Cat. The Frenchman is third in the 2021 jockey standings, two behind current leader and fellow countryman, Marc Lerner, who has ridden nineteen winners.
International trotters
Gelati Cut (Coktail Jet) and Bahia Quesnot (Scipion du Goutier) will represent France at the 2021 G1 Elitloppet (1609m) at Solvalla, Sweden on Sunday, May 30. The former is a Romain Larue-trained three-year-old who scored in the G2 Sulky Summer Races 5 ans – Qualif 1 at Vincennes in March prior to a fair fourth in the G1 Paralympiatravel (2140m) at Gothenburg. Bahia Quesnot has been in all the big trotting races throughout this season, including victories in the G1 Grand Prix de Cornulier (2700m) at Vincennes in January prior to a fifth in the G1 Grand Prix d'Amerique (2700m) in the pinnacle of the calendar. She is the only mare lining up in either of the final heats and both aim to be the fifth French winner of the famous race since 2000, winning most recently with Dijon (Ganymede) in 2019.
Cuatro de Julio (Trixton), winner of fourteen races last season, made a successful seasonal reappearance last week, in the New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotters at The Meadowlands for legendary French horseman Jean-Pierre Dubois last week. The colt, out of Ready Cash mare Clarabelle, will be aimed towards the second round of the big meeting.
Intrumentalist
Sébastien Guarato looks to have a rapidly improving three-year-old after Instrumentalist (Ready Cash) won for the second time from three starts, on autostart debut at Beaumont-de-Lomagne. The trainer and driver appeared full of praise for his youngster, noting that we will see the best of him next season and he will be kept to smaller tracks before aimed at Vincennes.
Trophée Vert
El Tigre Segah (Kool du Caux) took advantage of the absence of the winners of the first three stages of the Trophée Vert, to win stage four in a close finish at Vitré on Sunday, May 16, ahead of Expresso Good and Franklin Park, both sons of Prince Gede. After a week of rest, stage five will commence this Sunday at Villeneuve-se-Lot, with the final taking place in the first week of September at Craon.
Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel, winner of 45 professional cycling races, including three stage victories in the Tour de France, gained a first career success at the thirteenth attempt behind the sulky. The 41-year-old gave Diagana Sport (Jag de Bellouet) an excellent ride to land a comfortable success in the class H amateur drivers walk up on turf at Dozulé over 2900m.
