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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 25th January 2022.
Both trotting and thoroughbred action feature in this week's edition of the Weekly Round Up including one of the feature races of the year at Pau.
| Date | Saturday, January 22 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R3 - Prix De Brest |
| Type | G3 Walk up for six- to eleven-year-olds (2850m) |
| Winner | Dreamer De Chenu |
| Jockey/Driver | Louis Baudouin |
| Trainer | Jean Michel Baudouin |
| Breeding | Timoko x Revolte De Chenu |
| Second | Duel Du Gers |
| Third | Marcello Wibb |
| This long-awaited clash between favourites Cleangame and Epsom d'Herfraie took shape at the head of the final stretch but it was Dreamer De Chenu who ran out a shock winner, providing driver Louis Baudouin with a first Group race success. The Jean Michel Baudouin-trained nine-year-old sat in a perfect stalking position on the pegs during much of the contest. He travelled powerfully before finding a perfect gap between the two big fancies to launch his winning challenge. As for the aforementioned duo, both broke stride during the event to overcome handicaps. Duel Du Gers finished powerfully to claim the runner-up spot. | |
| Date | Saturday, January 22 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R6 – Prix De Pardieu |
| Type | G2 Mounted for four-year-olds (2175m) |
| Winner | Ideale Du Chene |
| Jockey/Driver | Paul Philippe Ploquin |
| Trainer | Julien Le Mer |
| Breeding | Bird Parker x Royale Du Chene |
| Second | Indigo Du Poret |
| Third | Inoui Danica |
| Ideale Du Chene completed a mounted Group race double in impressive fashion after making all the running. She maintained a solid pace down the back straight before pulling right away from her toiling rivals with Paul Philippe Ploquin allowed to coast home on top of the improving filly. Her market rival, Ici C'Est Paris could never land a blow, finishing a tired third, before being subsequently disqualified after an investigation for an irregular trot. | |
| Date | Sunday, January 23 |
| Venue | Pau |
| Race | R9 - Grand Prix De Pau |
| Type | G3 Steeplechase for five-year-olds and above (5300m) |
| Winner | Happy Monarch |
| Jockey/Driver | Bertrand Lestrade |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Saint Des Saints x Ladies Choice |
| Second | Ferronniere |
| Third | Eddy De Balme |
| The 135th running of this prestigious Group Three Chase was won in determined fashion by Happy Monarch. One of four runners for his esteemed trainer, the seven-year-old sat handily throughout before taking up the running as they passed the stands for the final time. He poached a two-length lead rounding for home with an accurate jump at the second-last fence. Ferronniere loomed as a major threat, but the winner kept finding generously for pressure under a positive ride. Happy Monarch clearly benefitted from a reappearance third at this track last month, raised in distance second up. This was a career-best performance indicating promise of further improvement if allowed to dictate from the front at a similar level going forward. | |
| Date | Sunday, January 23 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R5 – Prix De Mirande |
| Type | G3 Walk up for five-year-olds (2700m) |
| Winner | Hatchet Man |
| Jockey/Driver | David Thomain |
| Trainer | Philippe Allaire |
| Breeding | Goetmals Wood x Suricate |
| Second | Bubble Effe |
| Third | Hades De Vandel |
| Hatchet Man bounced back to form in no uncertain terms with a dominant victory. He had been in fine form before a below par eighth in the G3 Prix Oscar Collard (2100m). Returning to a walk up, the son of Goetmals Wood eased into the lead passing the stands for the first time. David Thomain expertly settled him in front before asking for maximum effort. The pair held a three-length lead into the home straight. They just had enough in reserve to fend off the fast-finishing Bubble Effe. | |
| Date | Sunday, January 23 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R6 – Prix Bellino II |
| Type | G3 Autostart for four-year-olds only (2100m) |
| Winner | Iron Meslois |
| Jockey/Driver | Alexis Collette |
| Trainer | Pierre Belloche |
| Breeding | Titan d'Occagnes x Tiflosa Mesloise |
| Second | Intouchable |
| Third | Illusive Artist |
| Complexion of the race changed from the outset as one of the leading fancies, Iquem, broke stride shortly after the start. The field were tightly packed at the foot of the back straight, with Intouchable making the first move, rounding his rivals to strike the front entering the home straight. He held every chance but was overhauled by the strong-travelling Iron Meslois, who scythed his way through a narrow gap between horses at the 200m marker. Illusive Artist finished well for a minor placing. For Iron Meslois this was incredibly a first-career success and unquestionably he ran the race of his life. He managed fifth in the G3 Prix De Mansle (2100m) autostart over course and distance in December, hinting that he remains a good performer, but this was a surprise victory. With this breakthrough win under his belt it's hoped he can go forward to compete in Group company throughout the remainder of the Winter Meeting. | |
| Date | Sunday, January 23 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R8 – Prix Michel Marcel Gougeon |
| Type | G3 Walk up for six-year-olds (2700m) |
| Winner | Gamay De L'Iton |
| Jockey/Driver | Eric Raffin |
| Trainer | Hughes Levesque |
| Breeding | Bird Parker x Story de L'Iton |
| Second | Gloranie Des Noes |
| Third | Grand Art |
| A good pace was set by Goldy Mary with a kilometre rating of 1'11" during the first 500m so it was no surprise to see the field concertina at the end of the back straight. There were numerous chances entering the final stretch, including heavy favourite Gaspar De Brion, but he struggled to overtake the determined Grand Art. Gloranie Des Noes and Girolamo attacked strongly but couldn't quite get there as Gamay De L'Iton responded generously for pressure from an inspired Eric Raffin ride to get up on the line. | |
