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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 10th November 2021.
This week's news-in-brief covers racing plans for Billie de Montfort, the new lighting system at Deauville and a 200th win for Yoann Lebourgeois...
Yoann Lebourgeois
Leading driver Yoann Lebourgeois won four races from six runners at Caen last Monday. The 36-year-old crossed the winning line in front for the 200th time in the sulky this season, courtesy of Huta Jazz (Very Nice Marceaux). These victories bolstered his second position in the Sulky d'Or.
Billie de Montfort
Globetrotting star Billie de Montfort (Jasmin de Flore) is set to compete in the Italian G1 Palio des Communes (1600m), a race she finished third in two seasons ago. Her previous two visits to Italy have resulted in a second (G1 Prix Citta Di Montecatini, 1640m) and a victory in the G1 Gran Premio Costa Azzurra (1600m).
Vincennes
Leading trainer and driver Jean-Michel Bazire wasted little time winning his first race of the Winter Meeting when steering two-year-old colt Jourdam Seven (Bird Parker) to a comfortable victory. The trainer was complimentary about his trotter, suggesting it is not out of the question he could develop into a Critérium des 3 ans candidate next year. This victory gave Jean-Michel Bazire a remarkable 6,000th sulky success.
Hastronaute
Last season's G1 Critérium des 4 ans (2850m) winner, Hastronaute (Booster Winner), will make his seasonal reappearance in the G3 Prix de Chenonceaux (2700m) at Vincennes on November 27, before a tilt at the G2 Prix Octave Douesnel (2700m) on December 11. Trainer, Yannick Henry, has set his winter goal in the G1 Prix Bold Eagle, the new five-year-old contest on the same day as the G1 Prix d'Amerique (2100m).
Callmethebreeze
Owned and trained by Philippe Allaire, Callmethebreeze secured the prestigious three-year-old trotting prize of the G1 Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli at Milano. The Trixton colt is set for a few weeks rest before gearing up to tackle two Vincennes targets – the G2 Prix Charles Tiercelin (2100m) and the new G1 Prix Ourasi (2700m) for four-year-olds.
Cleangame
The Jean-Pascal Bragato-owned and trained Cleangame (Ouragon de Celland) was sent off a heavy favourite when securing the G3 Grand Prix du Centre-Est Gontron de Nobbet (2850m) at Lyon-Parilly. He never broke sweat registering a fifth successive triumph, this time defying a 25-metre handicap. This superstar has now amassed 41 career victories with life earnings of €1,727,170.
Magny Cours
G3 Prix Perth (1600m) winner Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) is set to take part in the Bahrain International Trophy meeting on November 19. The Godolphin-owned and André Fabre-trained contender will step up to the 2000m distance, a journey he finished runner-up in the G3 Prix Coupe at Longchamp in June.
Deauville
The Deauville AW track raced under their new LED lighting system for the first time last Friday evening (November 5). This was also a first for a France Galop track.
Purplepay Sale
The latest Auctav Flash Sale concluded last Thursday (November 4), with G1 Critérium International (1600m) third Purplepay (Zarak) unsold at €1,350,000.
Christophe Clement
The French-born US trainer saddled a first career victory in the Breeders' Cup on his 42nd attempt with Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock). José Ortiz delivered an incredible ride from the rear, weaving through the entire field to secure a dramatic success. Francis-Henri Graffard trained the runner-up with Malavath (Mehmas), who followed the winner with a clear run toward the rail.
Aga Khan fillies
Three Aga Khan-owned fillies, who won black-type this season, have been retired to start new careers as broodmares: Varkesha (Pivotal), winner of the Listed Prix de la Cochere (1600m) at Longchamp; Valia (Sea The Stars), who was successful in the G2 Prix Radio FG (formerly Prix Maurice de Nieuil, 2800m); G3 Prix du Pin (1400m) winner Sagamiyra (Sea The Moon).
Skalleti
The Jean-Claude Séroul-owned Group One-winning grey secured a ninth victory over the 2000m distance in the G2 Premio Roma at Capannelle on Sunday (Nov 7). Young jockey Antonio Orani settled Skalleti at the rear of the pack before making ground approachingthe end of the back straight. Picking up the running 500m from home, the pair were never in any danger, scoring a comfortable three-and-a-quarter-length success. The likable Jerôme Reynier-trained six-year-old added this Group Two prize to his accolades for the season, including a pair of Group One victories in the Prix d'Ispahan (1850m) and the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (2000m).
