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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 1st December 2021.
All three codes feature in this week's Weekly Round-Up including an all-weather championship fast track qualifier at Deauville, jumping at Compiegne and Auteuil plus trotting from Le Mans, Salon-de-Provence and Vincennes…
Flat
| Date | Tuesday 23 November 2021 |
| Venue | Deauville (Standard) |
| Race | R7 – Listed Prix Lyphard (1900m) |
| Type | AW, for three-year-olds and above (Fast Track qualifier for the All-Weather championships) |
| Winner | Intégrant |
| Jockey | Maxime Guyon |
| Trainer | Henri-François Devin |
| Breeding | Frankel x Via Manzoni |
| Second | Angelissima |
| Third | Charlesquint |
| Three-year-old son of Frankel, Intégrant overcame the widest draw to go from last to first and gain a guaranteed entry ticket to the UK's All-weather championships finals day at Newcastle (UK) on Friday 15 April 2022. A strong pace was set by Tour To Paris with the winner around ten lengths behind at halfway. Maxime Guyon still only had two runners behind him with 600m to go but being on the outside, it allowed him to quicken nicely and weave through the gaps to power down the outside and get up winning in dominant style. This was a first win at Black Type level for the colt and gave Frankel (Galileo) an 82nd individual stakes winner. | |
| Date | Wednesday 24 November 2021 |
| Venue | Deauville (Standard) |
| Race | R7 – Listed Prix Petite Etoile - Fonds Européen de l'Elevage (1900m) |
| Type | For three-year-old fillies only |
| Winner | Amazonie |
| Jockey | Jean-Bernard Eyquem |
| Trainer | Jean-Claude Rouget |
| Breeding | Toronado x Amarysia |
| Second | Ansilia |
| Third | Amboseli |
| Three-year-old daughter of Toronado, Amazonie gained Black Type status when winning on the second attempt at Listed level. It was one of the first pattern events staged under the newly installed Deauville floodlights in France and the contest was run at an even tempo. Jean-Bernard Eyquem kept the filly held up on the inside, but only five lengths off the leader. She always caught the eye travelling strongly and showed good acceleration inside the final 300m. | |
| Date | Friday 26 November 2021 |
| Venue | Saint-Cloud (Heavy) |
| Race | R2 – G1 Prix Jacques de Vienne (2500m) |
| Type | For three-year-olds AQPS only |
| Winner | Irish Point |
| Jockey | Mickaël Barzalona |
| Trainer | Etienne d'Andigné |
| Breeding | Joshua Tree x Burkina |
| Second | Il Est Français |
| Third | Itialene |
| Mickaël Barzalona continued his excellent strike rate taking the highlight event last Friday at Saint-Cloud. The three-year-old son of Joshua Tree showed plenty of promise prior to this first career success posting a good debut third at Fontainebleau in September before going one place better when runner-up at Le Mans six weeks ago. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Toulouse (Heavy) |
| Race | R2 – Listed Prix Max Sicard - 17éme Etape du Défi du Galop (2400m) |
| Type | For three-year-old and above |
| Winner | Jo Pickett |
| Jockey | Valentin Seguy |
| Trainer | Jérôme Reynier |
| Breeding | Makfi x Maredskaya |
| Second | Qatar River |
| Third | Narcos |
| Under the Toulouse floodlights, Jo Pickett showed a significant amount of progress after a runner-up effort in the Class Three Grand Prix de l'Hippodrome de Cavaillon at Cavaillon three weeks prior. Eased at the line, he was a comfortable winner. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Toulouse (Heavy) |
| Race | R8 – Listed Prix Ourour (2000m) |
| Type | For three-year-olds only (Arab race) |
| Winner | Edalbar |
| Jockey | Mickaël Barzalona |
| Trainer | Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte |
| Breeding | Af Albahar x Edee Rose |
| Second | Ariadna |
| Third | Izadi Star |
| Edalbar showed a great attitude when keeping up the gallop in the closing stages to fend off rivals and score by one and three quarter lengths. He followed up another Toulouse success seven weeks back over 2100m and is now two from three. | |
Jumping
| Date | Thursday 25 November 2021 |
| Venue | Compiègne (Heavy) |
| Race | R4 – G3 Prix Général de Saint-Didier Hurdle (3400m) |
| Type | Hurdle for three-year-olds only |
| Winner | Bathyscaphe |
| Jockey | James Reveley |
| Trainer | Donatien Sourdeau de Beauregard |
| Breeding | Bathyrhon x Nasmona |
| Second | Diamond Carl |
| Third | Sideralis |
| Bathyscaphe made all to be an impressive winner at Compiegne stretching out the field by over 20 lengths throughout. Running alone for most of the race he jumped well and continued to show his progression following up a previous course and distance success. | |
| Date | Thursday 25 November 2021 |
| Venue | Compiègne (Heavy) |
| Race | R5 – Listed Prix Roger de Minvielle Chase (3450m) |
| Type | Chase for three-year-olds only |
| Winner | Na Has |
| Jockey | Bertrand Lestrade |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Saint des Saints x Chegei Has |
| Second | Showly |
| Third | Singapore Trip |
| Na Has used his Auteuil experience to good effect at Compiegne when taking up the running before halfway to be left well clear. This three-year-old son of Saint des Saints gradually refined his technique over the obstacles which resulted in at one stage being 30 lengths ahead of the peloton of rivals who were simply outclassed. The runner-up was beaten by thirteen lengths. | |
| Date | Thursday 25 November 2021 |
| Venue | Compiègne (Heavy) |
| Race | R7 – G3 Prix Léopold d'Orsetti - Grande Course de Haies de Compiègne Hurdle (3800m) |
| Type | Hurdle for four-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Porto Pollo |
| Jockey | Bertrand Lestrade |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Manduro x Silky Steps |
| Second | Becquarainbow |
| Third | Ferblue |
| Bertrand Lestrade and François Nicolle recorded a double during the afternoon at Compiegne last week. Six year old, Porto Pollo confirmed his winning form from the same course and distance four weeks prior travelling strongly and powering away in determined fashion. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Auteuil (Heavy) |
| Race | R2 – G3 Prix André Michel Hurdle (3600m) |
| Type | Hurdle for four-year-old fillies and mares above |
| Winner | Raffles Sainte |
| Jockey | Gaëtan Masure |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Saint des Saints x Loxlade |
| Second | Kolina Has |
| Third | Madame Moonie |
| Raffles Sainte recorded her first Auteuil victory, building on a good fourth in the Listed Prix de Besançon Hurdle (3800m) at Compiegne a month previous. The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned five year old mare is lightly raced and open to further improvement. She looked one to note after this four length triumph. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Auteuil (Heavy) |
| Race | R3 – G2 Prix Olry Roederer Hurdle (4300m) |
| Type | Hurdle for five-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Gex |
| Jockey | James Reveley |
| Trainer | Emmanuel Clayeux |
| Breeding | Khalkevi x Mexcala |
| Second | Pollexfen |
| Third | Garasil |
| Gex enhanced his overall career profile to now maintain a 50% winning strike of five wins from ten starts. James Reveley allowed the five-year-old to settle just behind the leader, Polirico where a sensible pace was set considering the ground conditions. The most notable moment was at the first hurdle when the strongly supported, Galop Marin unseated the rider enabling the eventual winner to take the rail and be guided home passing Pollexfen. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Auteuil (Heavy) |
| Race | R4 – Listed Prix Fifrelet Handicap Hurdle (3600m) |
| Type | Handicap Hurdle for three-year-olds only |
| Winner | Odiago |
| Jockey | Pierre Dubourg |
| Trainer | Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé |
| Breeding | Night Wish x Madonna Du Berlais |
| Second | Hoppefull Has |
| Third | Hip Hop Senam |
| Odiago continued his progression with a second career success bouncing back after mixed form on the two previous outings. The son of Night Wish jumped well and showed a game attitude at the finish to repel Hoppefull Has on the run in. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Auteuil (Heavy) |
| Race | R5 – G2 Prix Georges Courtois Chase (4400m) |
| Type | Chase for five-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Srelighonn |
| Jockey | Théo Chevillard |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Martaline x Eliga |
| Second | Glorice |
| Third | Pacha Senam |
| Eight-year-old son of Martaline might still have jumping issues however he managed to overcome his fall in the G1 Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (5500m) from three weeks ago and gain victory. There was a strong pace on this occasion and stamina was required tackling the heavy going. Jumping the big open ditch in better fashion he went clear in the final 1000m to show his dominance as he extended his lead to be an eighteen length winner. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Auteuil (Heavy) |
| Race | R7 – G3 Prix Morgex Chase (3500m) |
| Type | Chase for four-year-olds |
| Winner | La Danza |
| Jockey | Romain Julliot |
| Trainer | Mlle Daniela Mele |
| Breeding | Masked Marvel x La Sorelle |
| Second | Sel Jem |
| Third | Gold Tweet |
| Four-year-old daughter of Masked Marvel, La Danza travelled best on the testing ground and opened clear with two to jump. Staking winning claims on the race she had enough energy to keep Sel Jem at bay in the final 100m. Lightly raced at the Paris venue she could be open to further progress. | |
Trotting
| Date | Wednesday 24 November 2021 |
| Venue | Le Mans |
| Race | R4 – G3 Grand National du Trot (2950m) |
| Type | Driven for five- to ten-year-olds |
| Winner | Bad Julry |
| Driver | Anthony Barrier |
| Trainer | Stéphane Provoost |
| Breeding | Prince Gédé x Milady de Bas |
| Second | Goût Baroque |
| Third | Clarck Sotho |
| Ten-year-old, Bad Julry sprung a surprise beating the favourite, Goût Baroque when landing the final round of the series. It was an open event with many chances as approximately twelve runners were covered by only three lengths inside the final 200m (most still in-contention). With some luck the winner secured a clear inside run. The final of the series is this Sunday at Paris-Vincennes. | |
| Date | Saturday 27 November 2021 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R3 – G2 Prix Annick Dreux - Critérium des Pouliches – Femelles (2700m) |
| Type | Driven walk up for three-year-old fillies only |
| Winner | Inoubliable |
| Driver | Jean-Philippe Dubois |
| Trainer | Philippe Moulin |
| Breeding | Prodigious x Dream Life |
| Second | Icône de Castelle |
| Third | I Love Me |
| This was the fillies trial race for the upcoming Critèrium des Trois ans in three weeks. Inoubliable bounced back to best form recording a fourth Group Two level success. The filly took up the running with 1000m to go and seemed to have control over the field, but it still looked an open contest as the runners made the home turn. Jean-Philippe Dubois timed the fractions to perfection and scored narrowly for a sixth career triumph. | |
| Date | Saturday 27 November 2021 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R5 – G2 Prix Jacques de Vauloge (2700m) |
| Type | Driven walk up for three-year-old colts and geldings |
| Winner | Italiano Vero |
| Driver | David Thomain |
| Trainer | Philippe Allaire |
| Breeding | Ready Cash x Baraka d'Henlou |
| Second | Idéal Ligneries |
| Third | Infant Perrine |
| Italiano Vero won the colts division of the Critèrium des Trois ans trial race and kept up his amazing and consistent record to gain his tenth win from eighteen career outings alongside a further four placings. The talented son of Ready Cash ran close to the speed and swapped the pace-setting duties with Inferno Piper in the first half. There was 800m to go when he looked the one to beat as the tempo increased. His quality was easy to see as the colt extended away. Admittedly down the home straight he did fade however David Thomain kept him working. He will prove hard to beat in the G1 Classic on 19 December. | |
| Date | Saturday 27 November 2021 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R6 – G3 Prix de Chenonceaux (2700m) |
| Type | Driven walk up for four- and five-year-olds only |
| Winner | Ampia Mede Sm |
| Driver | Franck Nivard |
| Trainer | Fabrice Souloy |
| Breeding | Ganymède x Polimpia Slide Sm |
| Second | Giant Chief |
| Third | Hussard du Landret |
| Ampia Mede Sm maintained her excellent recent form in France to record a seventh consecutive victory and a fifth successive triumph in Group company. The five-year-old mare has been in brilliant form for the whole of the year with only one blimp when DQ at Enghien in March. All other starts have resulted in a placing or a win. An impressive model of consistency. | |
| Date | Sunday 28 November 2021 |
| Venue | Salon-de-Provence |
| Race | R8 – G3 Grand Prix de Salon-de-Provence (3000m) |
| Type | Driven walk up for six- to ten-year-olds |
| Winner | Duel du Gers |
| Driver | Matthieu Abrivard |
| Trainer | Matthieu Abrivard |
| Breeding | Quaker Jet x La Chasse Verte |
| Second | Cash du Rib |
| Third | Bilooka du Boscail |
| Duel du Gers recorded a 20th career success from 61 outings on Sunday when taking one of the feature races of the year at Salon-de-Provence. He finished a good fourth in last years final of the Grand National du Trot at Vincennes and the eight-year-old is often running to a solid level of consistency. It made the long journey for trainer/driver Matthieu Abrivard worthwhile. | |