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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 25th May 2021.
Flat
| Date | Friday 21 May |
| Venue | Vichy (Soft) |
| Race | R1 – Listed Prix des Rêves d'Or - Jacques Bouchara (1000m) |
| Type | For two-year-olds only |
| Winner | Diablotine |
| Jockey | Mickaël Barzalona |
| Trainer | Hubert de Nicolay |
| Breeding | Kodi Bear x Fridoline |
| Second | Ma Noire |
| Third | Glenall |
| Two-year-old daughter by Kodi Bear remained unbeaten when justifying strong market support to draw clear from the field with ease. There was a nasty incident with 400m to go when Smart and Fast fell however both horse and jockey seemed to get on their feet. Rathbarry Stud resident Kodi Bear sired his fourth individual stakes winner with this success. The filly was purchased by Delphine Garcia Dubois for €18,000 at the Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale. | |
| Date | Saturday 22 May |
| Venue | Toulouse (Good) |
| Race | R5 – G2 Prix de l'Elevage (2000m) |
| Type | Pure Arab Breds for four-year-olds and above fillies and mares |
| Winner | Artémis |
| Jockey | Olivier Peslier |
| Trainer | Mme Jean-François Bernard |
| Breeding | Azadi x Ocyrrhoe |
| Second | Alkedri |
| Third | Um Taj |
| Artémis did not look like the winner with 300m to go when in last place but Olivier Peslier was left with no option but to switch the five-year-old mare to the outside. It was then she made rapid headway to sweep by all for a cosy triumph. | |
| Date | Monday 24 May |
| Venue | Longchamp (Soft) |
| Race | R1 – Listed Prix de Pontarmé (1400m) |
| Type | For three-year-olds only |
| Winner | Erasmo |
| Jockey | Mickaël Barzalona |
| Trainer | André Fabre |
| Breeding | Oasis Dream x Sant Elena |
| Second | Axdavali |
| Third | Wooturn |
| The son of Oasis Dream continued to show ability when recording his third win of his career when responding well for pressure and offering plenty at the finish to win in cosy fashion. The colt has never finished outside the frame and looks one to note. | |
| Date | Monday 24 May |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | R2 – G2 Prix Hocquart (2200m) |
| Type | For three-year-olds only |
| Winner | Bubble Gift |
| Jockey | Gérald Mossé |
| Trainer | Mikel Delzangles |
| Breeding | Nathaniel x Bubble Back |
| Second | Gregolimo |
| Third | Lambo |
| Bubble Gift impressively came from last to first under the wet conditions. The three-year-old was sharing last position as the field raced along the false straight. With 400m to go, headway was visible for this son of Nathaniel who helped produce a great spectacle with four horses together in the final 100m. Gérald Mossé edged the colt when it mattered to deliver a narrow triumph. | |
| Date | Monday 24 May |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | R5 – Listed Prix de Montretout (1600m) |
| Type | for four-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Reshabar |
| Jockey | Gérald Mossé |
| Trainer | Markus Münch |
| Breeding | Iffraaj x Rait |
| Second | Magny Cours |
| Third | Irska |
| The rain continued in Paris on Monday, however it did not stop Gérald Mossé gaining another win. This time it was four-year-old colt, Reshabar who quickened up in style and drew clear from the field. He managed to keep the staying on Magny Cours behind with a neck separating the pair. | |
| Date | Monday 24 May |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | R7 – G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3100m) |
| Type | For four year olds and above |
| Winner | Skazino |
| Jockey | Mickaël Barzalona |
| Trainer | Cédric Rossi |
| Breeding | Kendargent x Skallet |
| Second | Valia |
| Third | The Grand Visir (GB) |
| Skazino stalked the pacesetter, Karlarina throughout to record an eleventh success from twenty six starts. Clearly the five year old is in good form at present following up at course and distance in the G3 Prix de Barbeville (3100m) three weeks ago. This talented stayer may enjoy a notable campaign. | |
Jump
| Date | Saturday 22 May |
| Venue | Auteuil (Very Soft) |
| Race | R2 – Listed Haras d'Etreham Prix d'Iéna hurdle (3500m) |
| Type | Hurdle, for three-year-olds fillies |
| Winner | Matilda du Berlais |
| Jockey | Felix de Giles |
| Trainer | David Cottin |
| Breeding | Martaline x Nikita du Berlais |
| Second | La Boétie |
| Third | Saintamarin |
| Three year old daughter of Martaline followed up her debut success at the same track with the extra 500m no issue when traveling well throughout and was positioned to produce a great finishing effort and gain a second Black type win from two career starts after the Listed Prix Wild Monarch hurdle (3000m) victory. | |
| Date | Saturday 22 May |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R3 – Listed Prix le Parisien (Prix le Gualès de Mézaubran) hurdle (3600m) |
| Type | Hurdle for four-year-olds only |
| Winner | Colbert du Berlais |
| Jockey | Ludovic Philipperon |
| Trainer | Marcel Rolland |
| Breeding | Poliglote x Hermine du Berlais |
| Second | Chichi de la Vega |
| Third | Guépard du Berlais |
| Colbert du Berlais enhanced his promising record when successful for the first time from six attempts on Saturday. The son of Poliglote showed a good attitude in the closing stages despite drifting however his jumping was best and powered clear by five lengths. | |
| Date | Saturday 22 May |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R4 – Listed Prix d'Arles hurdle (3600m) |
| Type | Hurdle for four- and five-year-olds fillies and mares |
| Winner | Belle Promesse |
| Jockey | Pierre Dubourg |
| Trainer | Mlle Isabelle Gallorini |
| Breeding | Fuissé x Promets Moi |
| Second | Raffles Sainte |
| Third | Lola Oak |
| A slow pace allowed the first three home to never change position and maintain their placings throughout. It was five-year-old, Belle Promesse who made all to follow up her previous course and distance victory. | |
| Date | Sunday 23 May |
| Venue | Le Lion-d'Angers (Good To Soft) |
| Race | R2 – Listed Grand Steeple Alain du Breil - Prix Kauto Star handicap Steeplechase (4600m) |
| Type | Handicap steeplechase, for five-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Démon de Fleur |
| Jockey | Simon Evin |
| Trainer | Noam Chevalier |
| Breeding | Ange Gabriel x Fleur d Anjou |
| Second | Alcatraz Island |
| Third | Twist de la Barre |
| There was a slight surprise to the feature event of the day (named in honour of the great staying chaser, Kauto Star who won two G1 Cheltenham Gold Cups (5200m) (UK) alongside many more top staying chase events across the UK in the previous decade) at Le Lion-d'Angers as eight-year-old Démon de Fleur found success by four lengths. | |
| Date | Sunday 23 May |
| Venue | Le Lion-d'Angers |
| Race | R3 – Listed Prix Haras du Lion - Prix Urban Sea – Fee (2000m) |
| Type | Flat, for four-year-olds and above fillies and mares |
| Winner | Nationalista |
| Jockey | Fabrice Veron |
| Trainer | Mathieu Brasme |
| Breeding | Nathaniel x Rime à Rien |
| Second | Control Tower |
| Third | Très Valentine |
| Four-year-olds dominated the race and the finish with the first six home the youngest eligible of the group. Nationalista proved strongest scoring by one length. Newsells Park-based Nathaniel recorded his 23rd stakes winner. Nathaniel's stakes winners include are multiple Group One winner Enable, God Given and Channel so Nationalista could be one to keep in mind. | |
| Date | Sunday 23 May |
| Venue | Auteuil (Soft) |
| Race | R2 - Listed Prix Stanley hurdle (3500m) |
| Type | Hurdle, for three-year-old colts and geldings |
| Winner | Paradiso |
| Jockey | Kévin Nabet |
| Trainer | David Cottin |
| Breeding | Kapgarde x No News |
| Second | Latino des Isles |
| Third | Impressive |
| Paradiso jumped and travelled well throughout especially at the finish when showing a good turn of foot to stretch clear by five lengths quickly while continuing to pull away after the final obstacle for an eye-catching success. | |
| Date | Sunday 23 May |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R3 – Listed Prix Le Parisien - Prix Wild Risk Handicap Hurdle (3900m) |
| Type | Handicap hurdle, for five-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Gold Allen |
| Jockey | Théo Chevillard |
| Trainer | Patrice Quinton |
| Breeding | No Risk At All x Flèche d'Or |
| Second | Super Alex |
| Third | King of Run |
| Gold Allen provided the shock of the afternoon when surprising most to land this Listed hurdle. The field were spread out wide across the home straight and many had chances approaching the last obstacle. However, the five-year-old found something more to keep Super Alex at bay. | |
| Date | Sunday 23 May |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R4 – G1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure Steeplechase (4400m) |
| Type | Steeplechase, for four-year-olds |
| Winner | Le Listrac |
| Jockey | Lucas Zuliani |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Balko x Margonote |
| Second | L'Aubonnière |
| Third | Hades |
| François Nicolle had the first two home in the championship four-year-old chase with Le Listrac leading home L'Aubonnière. Both showed plenty of promise with good jumping throughout and the latter catching the eye in the final 200m when staying on well though it was too little too late with the former, a son of Balko finding more and producing a comfortable and dominating triumph to record a fifth career win from nine attempts, with a hat trick this season now achieved. He also confirmed the form when the four-year-old won a key trial race in the G2 Prix Jean Stern Chase (4400m) at the same course and distance a month ago. There were multiple re-opposing rivals including L'Aubonnière, Heloy Delabarrière, Queen du Berlais and Premier Vert on that occasion. | |
| Date | Sunday 23 May |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R7 – G1 Prix Alain du Breil - Course de Haies de Printemps des 4 Ans Hurdle (3900m) |
| Type | Hurdle, for four-year-olds only |
| Winner | Hermès Baie |
| Jockey | Bertrand Lestrade |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Crillon x Ludmika |
| Second | Martator |
| Third | Raffles Face |
| Another François Nicolle star displayed ability when taking out the feature Hurdle event on Sunday at Auteuil in the four-year-old hurdle championship race. The son of Crillon travelled and jumped brilliantly when ridden close to the pace throughout the contest. Jockey Bertrand Lestrade eventually took up the running narrowly when the field exited the back straight with it looking like another G1 one/two for the master trainer. However, Martator showed his stamina in the final strides to grab second from Raffles Face. There was a slight concern at the final obstacle when Hermès Baie jumped out to the right and lost ground, but he was determined and maintained the gallop to continue to stretch clear and be a twelve-length winner. The Mme Patrick Papot owned star now holds five wins from eight lifetime appearances, three of which have been this season all at Group standard – the G3 Prix d'Indy Hurdle (3600m), the G2 Prix Amadou Hurdle (3900m) and Sunday's success. | |
Trotting
| Date | Wednesday 19 May |
| Venue | Caen |
| Race | R1 – G2 Prix des Ducs de Normandie (2450m) |
| Type | Driven, international for four- to ten-year-olds (UET Master Series) |
| Winner | Etonnant |
| Driver | Anthony Barrier |
| Trainer | Richard Westerink |
| Breeding | Timoko et Migraine |
| Second | Davidson du Pont |
| Third | Ce Bello Romain |
| Etonnant is a seven-year-old son of Timoko and found success in one of Caen's biggest events of the year by making all in impressive fashion to prove a cut above the field after confirming his top-class ability with an excellent Vincennes Winter Meeting previously which included victory in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (4150m) in February. | |
| Date | Wednesday 19 May |
| Venue | Caen |
| Race | R4 – G2 Etrier 4 Ans Qualif 2 - Prix Henri Ballière (Prix Henri Ballière) (2450m) |
| Type | Mounted, for four-year-olds only |
| Winner | Héros de Fleur |
| Driver | Yoann Lebourgeois |
| Trainer | Frédéric Prat |
| Breeding | Ludo de Castelle x Rue Chance Folle |
| Second | Hopla des Louanges |
| Third | Hirondelle du Rib |
| There was another front running winning performance last Wednesday at Caen when four-year-old son of Ludo de Castelle scored in style kicking on as the field entered the home straight and managing to keep the energy up to last out narrowly. | |