Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 11th July 2021.
Trainer : David Evans. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Date
Saturday 11 July 2021
Venue
La Capelle
Race
G2 Prix Jean-Luc Egret
Type
Four-year-old plus autostart
Winner
Davidson du Pont
Jockey/Driver
Nicolas Bazire
Trainer
Jean-Michel Bazire
Breeding
Pacha du Pont x Laguna du Pont
Second
Violetto Jet
Third
Drole de Jet
Davidson du Pont bounced back to something like his best with a game success in La Capelle's feature event. There was controversy at the start as the eight-year-old colt veered left and caused interference to favourite Ce Bello Romain, who broke stride immediately. The four-time G1 winner secured the lead as the field reached the back straight and proved tough to pass with a determined front-running ride to just hold on from a fast-finishing Violetto Jet. Nicolas Bazire was given a four-day ban after his drive.
The Jean-Michel Bazire-trained eight-year-old dipped under the 1'10" for the first time, breaking the race record in the process. He won in a kilometre time of 1'09"3. This was Davidson du Pont's sixteenth career success with €1,752,010 earned during his career.
Date
Saturday 10 July 2021
Venue
Enghien
Race
G3 Prix de Berlin
Type
Three-year-olds autostart
Winner
Izoard Vedaquais
Jockey/Driver
Eric Raffin
Trainer
Philippe Allaire
Breeding
Bird Parker x Dokha Vedaquaise
Second
Imagine Darling
Third
Ideale du Chene
Izoard Vedaquais remains unbeaten after a seventh consecutive victory with a commanding performance. The son of Bird Parker took up the running as they came down the home straight for the first time and never saw a rival thereafter. Importantly this was a first autostart win and he triumphed with a kilometre time of 1'12"4. The youngster is in safe hands as his trainer, Philippe Allaire, guided Izoard Vedaquais's father, Bird Parker, to four G1 successes. This included two in mounted company and the future remains bright with the scope for further progress to come.
Date
Saturday July 10
Venue
Vichy
Race
G2 Grand Prix du Conseil Municipal
Type
Four to ten-year-olds walk up
Winner
Rebella Matters
Jockey/Driver
Christophe Martens
Trainer
Jean-Michel Bazire
Breeding
Explosive Matter x Mystical News
Second
Dorgos de Guez
Third
Carat Williams
A searching pace was set by Crack Money with the winner sitting in close proximity throughout. Rebella Matters was brought through to lead at the 200m market and got first run on the favourite Dorgos de Guez to just get home in front by a diminishing margin. It was an excellent enterprising ride by Christophe Martens who led a one-two for Jean-Michel Bazire. The runner up went passed the €1,000,000 earnings mark.
Date
Sunday 11 July 2021
Venue
Deauville
Race
Listed Prix Yacowlef
Type
Two-year-olds
Winner
Choux
Jockey/Driver
Maxime Guyon
Trainer
David Evans
Breeding
Exceed And Excel x Puff Pastry
Second
Papa Don't Preach
Third
Royal Ashirah
The in-form David Evans stable recorded a notable stakes victory as Choux wore down her rivals to land a Listed success on fourth career outing. She was off the bridle a long way out but battled on determinedly to comfortably win from Papa Don't Preach (Kodiac). Choux was purchased for €23,000 at the 2019 Goffs November foal sale by FAH Bloodstock. The daughter of Exceed And Excel has no immediate plans. Her sire landed a 186th stakes winner after this result.
Date
Sunday 11 July 2021
Venue
Deauville
Race
Listed Prix Roland de Chambure
Type
Two-year-olds
Winner
Zellie
Jockey/Driver
Mickaël Barzalona
Trainer
André Fabre
Breeding
Wootton Bassett x Sarai
Second
Miss Cleopatra
Third
Nirliit
Zellie remained unbeaten after an impressive success on third career start in the colours of the trainer's daughter, Lavinia. Mickaël Barzalona sat motionless as the pair cruised into the lead 200m from home and they obliged by an easy three lengths. The G1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend must enter calculations. Zellie was a €140,000 purchase from the 2019 Arqana December sale and her dam, Sarai, is a half-sister to G1 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Speciosa. This result gave her sire, Wootton Bassett, his nineteenth stakes winner.
Date
Sunday 11 July 2021
Venue
Deauville
Race
Listed Prix Amandine
Type
Three-year-olds
Winner
Loch Lein
Jockey/Driver
Stéphane Pasquier
Trainer
Jessica Harrington
Breeding
Invincible Spirit x Ashley Hall
Second
Pamouschana
Third
Cloudy Dawn
The Jessica Harrington-trained Lock Lein proved a gutsy winner at Listed level under a power-packed ride from Stéphane Pasquier, who hit the front with over 200m left to run. She battled right to the line to score by a length. Bred by Epona Bloodstock, Loch Lein became the 134th stakes winner for Invincible Spirit. He stands at the Irish National Stud for a fee of €80,000 this season.
Date
Sunday 11 July 2021
Venue
Deauville
Race
Listed Prix Kistena
Type
Three-year-olds
Winner
O Trasno
Jockey/Driver
Eddy Hardouin
Trainer
Bruno de Montzey
Breeding
Goken x Mapiya
Second
Millau
Third
Satisfied
O Trasno made all the running nearest to the stands' rail when landing a Listed success on first attempt. This was the third stakes winner for the Haras de Colleville-based Goken (Kendargent). The sire stood his fifth season at stud this term for a fee of €15,000.
Date
Sunday 11 July 2021
Venue
Deauville
Race
G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis
Type
Three-year-olds plus
Winner
Ocean
Jockey/Driver
Théo Bachelot
Trainer
Stephan Cerulis
Breeding
Exosphere x Tevara
Second
Coeur de Pierre
Third
Sestilio Jet
Théo Bachelot was at his best to deliver a surprise Group Three win aboard Ocean. The pair sat in third before hitting the front against the stands' rail 300m from the finish, keeping on well to win comfortably. This was a third consecutive victory with a career-best performance stepping up to this standard, which provided his sire Exosphere his third stakes winner. He stands at Oaklands Stud with a fee of $4,950 this season.
Date
Sunday 11 July 2021
Venue
Deauville
Race
Listed Prix de la Calonne
Type
Four-year-olds plus
Winner
Speak Of The Devil
Jockey/Driver
Cristian Demuro
Trainer
Frédéric Rossi
Breeding
Wootton Bassett x Moranda
Second
Queen Of Love
Third
Layla
Speak Of The Devil scored for the second time in Listed company over 1600m with a last-gasp thrust under a determined Cristian Demuro ride. This gave Wootton Bassett a stakes double on the card. The sire of four top-class winners including three-time G1 winner Almanzor, will shuttle to Coolmore's Hunter Valley farm for the first time this year and stand for a fee of $71,500.
