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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 8th June 2022.
This week the News In Brief includes the Aga Khan, Vadeni, trotting performer Earl Simon and jump jockey Benjamin Messina.
Flat
One of the most familiar set of colours in France are those of HH the Aga Khan – green with red epaulettes. This year those colours celebrate 100 years of breeding and success. It is only appropriate they were worn to victory in the Classic Prix du Jockey Club (G1) last Sunday. Whilst the winner Vedeni is descended from another famous racing name in France – the Lagardère family from which the Aga Khan purchased the entire breeding establishment almost twenty years ago – Vadeni won the Group one by a record 5L (for the race over 2100m).
Following his success in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1), Vadeni was immediately being compared with another winner of the race Almanzor, a horse also trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. Both horses have sizeable acceleration, and both followed a similar racing programme having previously won the Prix Guiche (G3) over 1800m and, amazingly, both horses commenced their careers at two-years of age in the same race at La Teste in July.
Going forward, Vadeni's trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has suggested a 2000m campaign will be pursued. A prime target will be the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) in mid-September. There is a possibility he may also race at Deauville in Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (G2) on 15 August, a non-penalty race run over 2000m.
After his fifth in the Prix d'Ispahan (Gr1), Sealiway will be given a break and freshened up to be targeted for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) with a prep run, most likely, in the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr1).
Prix de la Grotte (Gr3) winner Rosacea followed the victory with a close-up fourth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1). Her next race will be the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) on Sunday week, 19 June, where she will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon. Trained by Stéphane Wattel the jockey has previous ridden successfully for her owners Haras de La Perelle winning aboard Giofra in the Falmouth Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket in 2012 and Reggane in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (Gr1) in 2010 at Woodbine in Canada.
Trained by Satoshi Kobayashi, Tokyo Gold won the Derby Italiano and Belmont Derby (Gr1) in 2021. Following a Conditions third at Longchamp over 1800m in April he will line-up this Saturday in the Manhattan Stakes, a Gr1 which offers $750,000 at Belmont Park in New York. He is the only European representative in the race. Other European interest in the race includes Adhamo (Intello), The Imperator (Holy Roman Emperor), Rockemperor (Holy Roman Emperor).
Former French filly Rougir is to race in the New York Stakes (Gr1) on Friday against her own sex and will be ridden by former French jockey Flavien Prat. Another former French mare Tribhuvan is also engaged in the race.
Trotting
With a Bank Holiday in France on Monday, there were multiple race meetings across all three codes held throughout the country. Multiple trebles were recorded at the trotting meetings with two four-timers also noted. David Thomain won a quad of events at the small track of Villedieu-les-Poêles including twice for the family stable. Cédric Terry distinguished himself at Montauban where he also had four victories including two for his father, Patrick.
Following three runs since returning from injury, Hallix failed to run a place last Friday in the Prix Victor Cavey (Gr.2) at Vincennes and performed below raced below expectations of trainer Guillaume Gillot. The original plan was to run in the Prix de Normandie (Gr.1) at the end of the month, and this has been put on hold as she will now contest the driven Prix Jean Le Gonidec (Gr.2) next Saturday over 2,175 meters.
Connections have confirmed following his victory in record time in a stage of the Grand National de Trot at Le Croisé-Laroche Earl Simon undertook veterinary examinations. The all-clear was given for him to continue with his current campaign and he will now accept the invitation extended for him to compete in the Kymi Grand Prix (G1) in Finland at Kouvola. Earl Simon will be driven by his usual driver Franck Ouvrie.
Trained in France for several years by Tomas Malmqvit, Calle Crown has not participated in a Swedish race since July 2021, and the records show July 2018 for his last Nordic win. Last start he finished second in the Copenhagen Cup (Gr.1) on 15 May, beaten by Mister F Daag and then last Saturday at Mantorp in Sweden he won. This was an easy win and Calle Crown is now expected to face the starter in the Kymi Grand Prix (Gr.1) on 18 June in Finland. One of his rivals will be Earl Simon.
The European Drivers' Championship this year will be held in September in Belgium and will be conducted at Mons and Tongres. The next World Trotting Conference will take place in August 2023 in Berlin.
Bold Eagle colt Jushua Tree remains progressive and is three starts for three victories. Having his first race at Cabourg in October he was then away from the track for more than six months. He made his seasonal reappearance at the beginning of May at Maure-de-Bretagne and this was followed by a Vincennes appearance where again he showed brilliance and strength against his generational rivals. Trained by Jean-Michel Bazire, Romain Congard has been his only driver to date and remains one of the most exciting three-years-old's currently racing in France.
Jumping
Benjamin Messina rode his first winner on Gag du Boulay in the Prix Handicap Cheval Mayenne Steeplechase over 3800m at Segre last Sunday week. The horse is trained by Bertrand Lefevre. Young Messina has previously been with William Menuet and Alain Couetil and is now based with Lefevre.