This week's round-up covers an eye catching winner of the G2 Prix Eugène Adam at Saint Cloud, Listed action at Auteuil and the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at Longchamp...
Date
Tuesday 29 June 2021
Venue
Auteuil
Race
R6 – Listed Prix Gerald de Rochefort Hurdle
Type
Four-year-olds
Winner
Katribu
Jockey/Driver
James Reveley
Trainer
Gabriel Leenders
Breeding
Montmartre x Katkogarie
Second
Epic Tale
Third
Baladin des Mesc
Katribu scored for the third time over hurdles with a career landing a first black-type success. The Gabriel Leenders-trained four-year-old stretched ahead of his rivals from the second last to win impressively, indicating there could be more progress to come. His dam is an unraced half-sister to 3600m G1 hurdle winner Kotkita.
Date
Tuesday 29 June 2021
Venue
Auteuil
Race
R7 – Listed Prix Dawn Run Hurdle
Type
Five-year-olds plus
Winner
Folsom Prison
Jockey/Driver
Kevin Nabet
Trainer
Yannick Fouin
Breeding
No Risk At All x Think About
Second
Porto Pollo
Third
Aragorn d'Alalia
Always in a handy position, the Kevin Nabet-ridden Folsom Prison was a determined winner, delivering a second Listed success over hurdles. This was also a third victory at this track. The Yannick Fouin-trained six-year-old showed a potent burst of speed entering the home straight which could be used over shorter distances in similar company going forward. No Risk At All is a popular sire who has produced a pair of Cheltenham Festival winners - G1 Champion Hurdle (3300m) heroine Epatante and G1 Chase (4100m) victor Allaho – as well as G2 Prix Murat (5000m) scorer Ajas.
Date
Tuesday 29 June 2021
Venue
Auteuil
Race
R8 – Listed Prix Rigoletto Chase
Type
Five-year-olds plus
Winner
Thrilling
Jockey/Driver
Baptiste Le Clerc
Trainer
H Lageneste & G Macaire
Breeding
Network x Lofte Place
Second
Lil Rockerfeller
Third
Je Deviens Moi
Thrilling powered away from her rivals to register a fifth chase victory and a second at Listed level. The daughter of Network was a comfortable seven lengths ahead at the finishing line, with the step up to 4400m proving to be no barrier to progress. She is likely to be aimed at a graded race next. Lil Rockerfeller was a gutsy runner up but there was a sad postscript as the dual G2 hurdle winner tragically died of a heart attack following the race.
Date
Saturday 3 July 2021
Venue
Chantilly
Race
R3 – Listed Prix de Bagatelle
Type
Three-year-old fillies
Winner
Noticeable Grace
Jockey/Driver
Ioritz Mendizabal
Trainer
André Fabre
Breeding
Make Believe x Redemption
Second
Maracay
Third
Keyflower
Noticeable Grace took the class rise in her stride to gain some black-type on just her third career start. She was wide, without cover before settling in a handy second under a confident Ioritz Mendizabal. The André Fabre-trained filly shrugged off a strong challenger 200m from home to win going away. She has already won her maiden over 1800m so will have no trouble in the future of stepping up in distance. A daughter of Make Believe, who stands at Ballylinch Stud for a fee of €15,000, she is likely to contest the G3 Prix Chloé at Chantilly on July 18.
Date
Saturday 3 July 2021
Venue
Chantilly
Race
R5 – Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick
Type
Three-year-old males
Winner
Djo Francais
Jockey/Driver
Cristian Demuro
Trainer
Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeding
Intello x Nazlia
Second
Morton
Third
Laos
Jean-Claude Rouget has always held this son of Intello in high regard ever since making a winning debut on the AW at Deauville last season. Djo Francais has found the winning formula this campaign after a slow start, following a class two victory with a career best at Listed level. He was favoured by the quick tempo, cruising into the lead 200m out before finding plenty when Morton came to challenge in the final strides. There is plenty of stamina on the side of the dam which could promote further progress over an increased journey.
Date
Thursday 1 July 2021
Venue
Longchamp
Race
R3 – G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot
Type
Three-year-old plus
Winner
Marianafoot
Jockey/Driver
Mickaël Barzalona
Trainer
Jérôme Reynier
Breeding
Footstepsinthesand x Marianabaa
Second
Duhail
Third
Go Athletico
The rapidly-progressive Marianafoot produced a remarkable seventh win in-a-row and second G3 triumph making all the running in this 1400m contest. The six-year-old grabbed the rail from a wide draw under Mickaël Barzalona and put the race to bed at the 300m marker with an impressive turn of foot. He was allowed to coast home in the final stages. There seems to be no stopping this son of Footstepsinthesand, with the logical move to see him next in a Group Two. He is already one of the success stories of the season.
Date
Sunday 4 July 2021
Venue
Saint-Cloud
Race
R2 – G2 Prix Eugène Adam
Type
Three-year-olds
Winner
Pretty Tiger
Jockey/Driver
Christophe Soumillon
Trainer
Fabrice Vermeulen
Breeding
Sea The Moon x Fast And Pretty
Second
Caprice des Dieux
Third
Adhamo
Pretty Tiger ran out a comfortable all-the-way winner of the G2 prize under a good ride from Christophe Soumillon. The pair never looked in trouble as they dictated the pace throughout, keeping something in reserve to win by an easy two lengths. This Fabrice Vermeulen inmate was last seen finishing sixth behind subsequent G1 Eclipse (2000m) winner St Mark's Basilica in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) last month. The son of Sea The Moon has shown excellent form on soft conditions and his trainer has indicated deep ground could be an advantage for the remainder of the season. His schedule is now mapped out – to run in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (2000m) at Deauville, followed by the G2 Prix Niel (2400m) at Longchamp before returning to that track for a tilt at Europe's biggest prize, the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) on October 3.
