3 minute read

News In Brief of French Racing.

Dawn Intello, fourth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) has been sold to Australian interests and will continue his career with Melbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. He leaves France with a record of seven starts for two wins and two placings. His final start was at Longchamp in early September finishing fourth in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange (2000m) beaten 1¾L behind Chacknak.  

Guide Moi Forgan will not be seen during the upcoming Winter Meeting. Second in the G1 Prix du Président de la République in June, trainer Pascal Castel did not indicate when he would return to the track.   

The well-travelled 10-year-old Anaking has been retired following a second in Pisa in February. Prepared by multiple trainers throughout his career, he is one of the most travelled and successful steeplechasers in recent years. His exploits included France (Group placed), Italy (G1 victory), Germany (feature hurdle) and Czech Republic (feature races).    

Leading steeplechaser So French returned to the winners' enclosure at Moulins last Saturday in a hurdle race. This followed a steeplechase success at Segré. Trained by Guillaume Macaire, So French – now a nine-year-old – recorded back-to-back victories in the 2016 & 2017 G1 Grand Steeplechase de Paris (6000m).  

Winner of the G1 Sofiero Aaby Stora Pris (3140m) at Aby (Göteborg) Moni Viking looks set to join the stable of Pierre Vercruysse with the aim of having a tilt at the G1 Prix d'Amerique (2700m) at the end of January. His first run will be in the G2 Prix de Bretagne (2850m) at Vincennes in three weeks.    

Stallion Hot Streak recorded his first Group winner with A Case Of You in the G3 Anglesey Stakes (1300m) at the Curragh. He is to be transferred from Tweenhills in England to Haras d'Annebault for the 2021 season. He has had two crops to race and recorded twenty-seven winners to date. No fee has been announced, however he stood in England for £5,000. 

The second Sunday in December is the traditional date for the Hong Kong International Meeting and nominations have now closed. Eleven French horses have been entered for the highly valuable Group One contests.  

HONG KONG CUP (2.000m)  

Skaletti (J. Reynier)   

The Revenant (F.-H. Graffard)  

HONG KONG MILE (1.600m)  

Alson (A. Fabre)  

Half Light (H.-A. Pantall)  

HONG KONG SPRINT (1.200m)  

Air de Valse (C. Barande-Barbe)  

HONG KONG VASE (2.400m)  

Ebaiyra (A. de Royer Dupré)  

Folamour (A. Fabre)  

In Swoop (F.-H. Graffard)  

Nao Da Mais (D. Smaga) [four-time G1 winner in South America yet to race in France]  

Royal Julius (J. Reynier)  

Skalleti (J. Reynier)  

In Swoop has also been nominated to race in the G1 Japan Cup to be conducted two weeks earlier on Sunday 29 November.   

Royal Julius is engaged to defend his title in the Bahrain International Trophy on 20 November.  

Half Light is scheduled to race in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf this coming weekend at Keeneland.  

The Swedish Trotting Authority Svensk Travsport has concluded their investigation into the eligibility of Propulsion racing in Europe. The subject of the investigation was relating to a neurectomy performed in 2015 in the United States and prior to relocating to Sweden. This practise is banned in Europe. Once revealed following his win in the G1 Elitloppet (1609m) in May, Propulsion has not been permitted to race whilst the investigation was undertaken.   

The result has seen the horse disqualified from all races in Sweden numbering forty-five having won approximately €2.6 million in prizemoney. These monies will need to be repaid. Connections have claimed they were unaware of the operation having taken place prior to the purchase in August 2015. The Lawyer for governing body Svensk Travsport stated:  

'We found nothing to show that Daniel Reden had intention [to withhold information]. Daniel Reden does not lose his training license and should know in the next few months the sanctions that concern him.'   

Svensk Travsport did note the shortcomings in the importing process and the registration of the data. New procedures have been put in place to avoid this situation occurring again.   

Prizemoney will be distributed to the 'new' winners and placegetters. Cokstile is now recorded as the winner of the 2020 Elitloppet.   

As a stallion, all horses born to date (and for 2021) will be recognised however his ongoing participation as a stallion has been withdrawn.    

In France Propulsion was placed in the Prix d'Amerique and won the G2 European Masters.   

As a consequence of the Svensk Travsport's findings in the matter, Bold Eagle has been elevated to now become the highest earning French horse overtaking Timoko.