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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 14th July 2021.
Walzertakt
G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (2800m) victor Walzertakt achieved his first winner as a stallion on Sunday when Wal Cassendre scored at Erbray over hurdles. The son of Montjeu stands for 2500 euros at Haras de la Croix Sonnet and is a brother to G1 Deutches Derby (2400m) winner Wiener Walzer.
Jéridia Menuet
Jéridia Menuet won the first two-year-old trotting race of the season at Beaumont-de-Lomagne on Sunday driven by Damien Bonne. It was a particularly important victory for owner Sebastian Dewulf as the filly is from the first crop of his stallion Ecu Pierji. Jéridia Menuet is expected to improve for the experience and is an excellent advertisement for her sire.
Prix Maurice de Gheest
The G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) is shaping up as the race of the Deauville summer season with connections of top UK sprinters Starman and Dragon Symbol identifying the contest as a target. The pair finished first and second in the G1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on Saturday.
Rohaan
Trainer David Evans is also looking towards the G1 Prix Maurice De Gheest (1300m) at Deauville as a next target for Rohaan. The three-year-old gelding struggled to get involved when tenth in the G1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket but has already won at Group Two and Group Three level. David Evans has been finding winnable opportunities in France and recorded a victory with Choux in the Listed Prix Yacowlef at Deaville on Sunday, securing a valuable piece of Black Type for the juvenile filly.
Campanelle
Royal Ascot winning filly Campanelle could add further air miles to her passport with a possible second trip to France for the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m). The three-year-old filly was awarded the G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) after suffering interference from Dragon Symbol in the final 200m and has previously been successful at Deauville, winning the G1 Prix Morny (1200m) as a juvenile.
Valloria
Valloria produced an eye-catching performance to finish fourth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat (1400m) at Deauville on Sunday, which was a significant step up in class from her previous victory in the Listed Prix Volterra (1600m). The three-year-old filly finished best of the outer rail group and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has identified the G1 Prix Maurice De Gheest (1300m) as a likely target.
Noble Truth
One of three lots to surpass the million-euro mark at the 2020 Arqana Selection Sales, Noble Truth recorded his first victory in a 1400m maiden at Newmarket (UK). He is the second foal out of Speralita, a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) heroine and champion racemare Stacelita.
Saint-Michel
Eight competitors have been invited for G1 Saint-Michel at Mikkeli in Finland on Sunday 18 July. Double G1 Grand Prix d'Amerique (2700m) winner Face Time Bourbon heads the invitees with stable-mate Billie de Montfort also looking for another international success.
Italiano Vero
Winner of the G1 Prix Albert Viel, Italiano Vero is currently being syndicated for his stallion career. The share price will be 50,000 euros and the colt is expected to target further races in September during the Vincennes summer meeting.
Speed Cup
Eclipse d'Orient was the inaugural winner of the Vichy Speed Cup on Thursday, a new feature event in the Center-Est Trotting Festival. The filly set a new track record of 1'10" for 1609m.
Tattersalls
Two of the lots surpassing 100,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale on Thursday were French-bred. Four-year-old Man Of The Night (Night of Thunder) was purchased for 175,000 guineas by Sheikh Abdullah Al Halmoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah and is the first foal out of Mandheera (Bernardini), purchased out of the Aga Khan Studs in 2015. The Sheikh has numerous horses in-training in Europe, including Listed winner Salateen.
Holzarte Védaquais
Holzarte Védaquais made an eye-catching start to his Australian career when requalifying in style at Melton near Melbourne. He qualified in 1'58''9 over the mile (1'13''9) for his new trainer Tim Butt and will be given a two-or-three week break before an Australian spring campaign. The four-year-old was successful in the G3 Prix de la Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (2100m) at Vincennes in 2020 and has achieved four wins in his 12-race career.
Florian Guyader
Trainer Florian Guyader has moved from Chantilly to the training centre Mansonnian at Maisons-Laffitte. With only forty-eight boxes at his old base in Chantilly, the change will allow the trainer to expand as necessary.
Grand Messe
G3 Prix Indy heroine, Grand Messe will not return to the track after a win in the top-grade handicap at Auteuil on 29 June and will instead commence her new career as a broodmare. The only daughter of deceased Ulyssia Royale, the five-year-old mare represents a vital bloodline for breeders Haras de Saint Voir and has been scanned in foal to Cokoriko.
