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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 2nd November 2022.

All three codes feature in this week's News In Brief including Sealiway, Prix d'Amérique reigning champion, Davidson du Pont and jump jockey, Dylan Salmon.

Flat

Smart filly Raclette has been retired from racing to begin her career as a broodmare. Trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias this winner of the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) and Prix de la Nonette (Gr2) finished fourth in the Prix Jean Romanet and fifth in the Prix de l'Opera (both G1).

Two Juddmonte fillies, Raclette, winner of the Prix de Malleret (G2), and Agave winner of the Prix Pénélope (G3) and fourth in the Prix de Diane (G1), are to be retired and transferred to England for a future career as broodmares.

In 2023 two new sires are to be introduced to Haras de Beaumont – home to Intello. Sealiway will commence his stud duties at a fee of €12,000 and Stunning Spirit at €3,000. Bred by Guy Pariente, Sealiway was crowned best French two-year-old and then best three-year-old of his generation. Winner of two 1200m races in May and June as a 2-year-old, he won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (G1) by a modern era record breaking eight lengths defeating Nando Parrado (Coventry Stakes, Gr2) and Laws of Indices (Prix Jean Prat, G1). He won the Champions Stakes (G1) at Ascot (UK) beating MacSwiney (2000 Guineas, G1), Mishriff (Prix du Jockey Club, Dubai Sheema Classic & International Stakes, G1's), Adayar (UK Derby & King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, G1's), Addeybb (four G1 victories in Australia). Sealiway also finished second to St Mark's Basilica in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1). Also, at three, he finished fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). For Stunning Spirit, he is the winner of more than €500,000 and eight races, including the Prix Quincey (G3) and the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (G2).

Trotting

The Winter Meeting may not have commenced but there have been two important announcements that will impact the Prix d'Amérique Legend Race (G1). Firstly, reigning champion of the race, Davidson du Pont, has been ruled out because of tendonitis. Second, Swedish 5-year-old Calgary Games will need to requalify next week at Solvalla and at this point, connections are looking toward races later in the 2023 season.

Now a ten-year-old, good performer Carly has been retired from competition. On October 16 at Lisieux, and under the saddle of Barbara Guenet he won his twenty-third race from seventy starts and retires with earnings of more than €785,000. It was at Vincennes that Carly put in his best performances notably winning the Prix du Pontavice du Heussey (G3) in February 2021 where he set his PB record of 1'10''2 beating Freeman de Houelle.

This past week Gabriele Gelormini drove his 100th winner for 2022. He is on target to surpass his seasonal best record of 130 victories achieved in 2016.

Going into the Grand Prix du Centre-Est (G3) at St-Galmier last Sunday, Copsi was the highest prizemoney winning horse engaged and yet, despite this and his age (10 years), had yet to win a Group contest. He is racing as well as he ever has in his career. Previously he had contested six Group events without success, the best being three third places in the GNT du Le Croisé-Laroche (G3) 2021, Critérium de Vitesse de Basse-Normandie (G2) 2022 and in the Grand Prix Anjou-Maine (G3) 2022.

Jumping

Last Tuesday week at Auteuil, Dylan Salmon fell heavily in the Prix Lusignan riding Genovevo. The incident occurred when race favourite Ganamos and his jockey parted ways. It was discovered Salmon had suffered a fracture of a vertebra and will need to undergo a further examination this Thursday.