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Weekly Review of French Racing.
All three codes of Racing had a big week with the two feature Group One races at Auteuil creating an historic Sunday. In addition, there was the Winter Festival continuing at Vincennes plus the final flat turf action of the season.
Jumps
François Nicolle secured the first two home in the opening feature of three Black type events at Compiegne last Tuesday with Bertrand Lestrade riding the filly Solenzera Senam to an impressive eight length success in the Listed Prix Roger de Minvielle Steeplechase (3350m) for three-year olds. The field were strung out with the first three home dominating throughout.
A well supported Hotesse Du Chenet scored in the G3 Prix Général de Saint-Didier Hurdle (3400m) for three-year olds. The daughter of Martaline raced close to the pace and jumped well to add another Group victory after the G3 Prix De Chambly (3600m), G3 Prix Haras D'etreham Magne Hurdle (3600m) and the G2 Prix Bournosienne Hurdle (3600m). Looks a rising star in the jumping division.
The Nicolle and Lestrade combination teamed up again to take success in the G3 Prix Léopold d'Orsetti - Grande Course de Haies de Compiègne Hurdle (3800m) for four-year olds and above. Five-year-old, Flying Startandco made all the running and showed a good attitude to fight out the finish with stablemate, Garasil. A name to remember.
Auteuil staged a fantastic high-class fixture on Sunday with the majority of the programme at Black Type level.
Before Sunday, only two horses have secured three victories in the G1 Grand Prix d'Automne Hurdle (4800m) – Evohé II (1934, 1936, 1937) and Mon Romain (1997, 1998,1999). History was rewritten when eight-year-old gelding, Galop Marin became the third horse to achieve the three-timer and first horse this century.
Morgan Regairaz steered the son of Black Sam Bellamy on the stand side rail to deny the persistent threat of G1 Grande Course De Haies d'Auteuil Hurdle winner, Paul's Saga. This was a big race success for trainer Dominique Bressou who prepared the horse for leading owners, the Papot family. Favourite L'Autonomie proved disappointing with poor jumping and never looking a main challenger finishing a distant third.
Thomas Coutant and Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé gained a double on the card in the G3 Prix André Michel Hurdle (3600m) for mares, four-year olds and over as Loradame was a clear and convincing winner.
The G1 Prix La Haye Jousselin Steeplechase (5500m) for five-year olds and above did not disappoint. This great renewal and was one of the jumping highlights of the year. Cobra de Larré went thirty lengths clear in the early stages but eventually the fuel tank emptied with an awkward jump three from the finish. The David Cottin runner was swamped by staying-on rivals.
G1 Grand Steeplechase De Paris (6000m) form came to the fore with eight-year-old son of Doctor Dino, Docteur De Ballon finishing off strongly making up many lengths after the final jump. With head down determination he powered past Feu Follet who reversed the second placing from the Grand-Steeplechase de Paris placings with Figuero.
Jockey Bertrand Lestrade and trainer Louisa Carberry put their names in the history books gaining a prestigious race double and becoming the fifth horse this century to achieve such a feat. Even more significant was the fact that due to coronavirus this unique double was delivered only six weeks between events, where normally it is six months.
Trotting
On Saturday, Vincennes staged three feature contests as part of the Winter Festival in summer like conditions, with the sun shining throughout the afternoon.
The feature of the card was the two G2 Trial races for the first Group One of the Festival, the Criterium des Trois ans (2700m) to be run on Sunday 20 December.
First up was the G2 Prix Annick Dreux (2700m) for three-year old fillies where Hirondelle Sibey finished off best to overtake Hanna des Molles in the final 100m providing a success for driver Eric Raffin and trainer Jean-Michel Baudouin.
After, was the colt's version with the G2 Prix Jacques de Vaulogé (2700m) for three-year olds where driver and trainer of Hooker Berry, Jean-Michel Bazire achieved yet another Group triumph when settling the son of Booster Winner in midfield only to make eye catching headway on the final turn for a sprint down the home straight and flashing home for a narrow win.
The G3 Prix de Chenonceaux (2700m) for four- and five-year olds went the way of the barefoot five-year-old entire Fun Quick who was a clear and impressive winner representing driver Matthieu Abrivard and trainer Maik Esper.
Flat
Last Tuesday, on the all-weather surface at Deauville, UK Newmarket trainer Roger Varian trained his fourth horse to a fourth French stakes race success of the year. Stylistique loomed up well on the outside to win in authoritative style in the Listed Prix Petite Etoile - Fonds Européen de l'Elevage (1900m) for three-year-old fillies. This was the 146th individual stakes winner for former Juddmonte Farms stallion Dansili. It was the second victory of note for the three-year-old who gained winning Black type status.
Twenty-four hours later at the same venue, Sky Power delivered a narrow triumph in the Listed Prix Lyphard (1900m) for three-year olds and above. The three-year-old son of Stormy River (achieving his 14th individual stakes winner) received a lucky break in the final 300m with a gap appearing which enabled him to power through. The first six across the line produced a great spectacle with a half-length splitting them.
One of the few Black type races under floodlights on turf in France was conducted on Thursday at Toulouse. The favourite Munir du Soleil won with something in hand in the Arabian pure-bred Listed Prix Ourour (2000m) for three-year olds.
On Friday, Saint Cloud hosted a feature non-pure-bred AQPS Group One on heavy ground, the Prix Jacques de Vienne (2500m) for three-year olds. Only a short head split the first two with Hollee getting the better of Hillary producing a surprise in the feature.