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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 21st April 2021.

Vincennes hosted a key fixture last Saturday as a build up to the Summer Meeting. This was one of many highlights in the past week alongside racing at Auteuil, Longchamp, Lyon-La-Soie and more...

Jump 

Last Thursday, Auteuil hosted the Listed Prix Rose Or No Handicap Hurdle (3900m) for five year olds and above. Prince Du Roume was forced wide on the course in the early stages but jumped well and travelled powerfully with most of the sixteen in a winning position as the field entered the home straight. Jockey Stéphane Paillard asked and received a good response to produce a cosy success for trainer Joël Boisnard.  

Trotting 

Eden Basque found success in Round Three of the G3 Grand National du Trot (3250m) for five- to ten-year-olds at Lyon-La-Soie last Wednesday. Driver Pierre Vercruysse made an early move onboard the seven-year-old to be close up in second position with two circuits of the track left to race. The Nicolas Ensch trained son of Singalo was always close to the pace and did well not to become boxed in the home straight. The next (fourth) round is at Maure-de-Bretagne on Wednesday 28 April. 

Last Friday saw the running of the G2 Mounted Etrier Summer Races 3 Ans – Qualifier Three (Prix Hémine) (2175m) for three-year-olds at Vincennes where Inouï Danica was a comfortable winner making all throughout. The Philippe Allaire trained son of Boccador de Simm now holds three wins in eleven outings.  

24 hours later, the Vincennes feature race was the G2 Sulky Summer Races 5 Ans – Qualifier Two (Prix Henri Levesque) (2175m) for five-year-olds where Gu d'Héripré gained another victory for Franck Nivard and Philippe Billard. The five-year-old son of Coktail Jet made all in impressive fashion. He enjoyed a successful Winter Meeting with notable efforts including when third behind Face Time Bourbon in the G1 Grand Prix d'Amérique (2700m) and winner of the G1 Critérium Continental (2100m).   

Jean-Michel Bazire trained and steered Dorgos de Guez to success in the G3 Prix Jean Riaud (Prix Jamin) (2850m) for five- to ten-year-olds. Bazire made an early move to join the leader with a circuit to go but was always in close attendance to the pack. The eight-year-old proved too classy and managed to keep rivals at bay for a narrow win.  

Flat

Longchamp staged another quality Sunday of Flat racing with multiple Black type events.   

First up was the Listed Prix Jacques Laffitte (1800m) for four-year-olds and above. Trainer Frédéric Rossi gained a one-two with Kenway beating National Service. Kenway was boxed in with 300m to go on the inside, however Mickaël Barzalona managed to find a gap to squeeze through and be a short head in front. It was a grandstand finish with the first five home covered by one length.  

Cirona relished the step up in grade when victorious in the G3 Prix de la Grotte (1600m) for three-year-old fillies. The daughter of Maxios was keen early for jockey Maxime Guyon and trainer Christophe Ferland and provided pace setting duties throughout. She now holds three wins from six career starts. Cirona showed a good attitude in the finish to fend off closing rivals in another five-horse wave on the line. This gave Coolmore Stud-based sire Maxios a tenth stakes level triumph.  

Another highlight on the programme was the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau (1600m) for three-year-old colts. Policy of Truth broke well from the starting stalls and settled in mid-field throughout with a strong pace being established by Galik. Many had chances as the field turned for home with 500m to go, but it was Sealiway (last season's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (1400m) winner) who caught the eye before Maxime Guyon onboard Policy of Truth was able to be switch to produce a winning challenge on the outside just passing Sealiway in the final strides.   

Policy of Truth has given a boost to the form of the G1 Critérium International (1600m) last October where he finished fourth behind Van Gogh. The three-year-old colt is one of 44 stakes winners for Haras de Bonneval-based stallion Siyouni.  

Mickaël Barzalona and André Fabre teamed up with Sublimis in the Listed Prix Lord Seymour (2400m) for four-year-old and above. The five-year-old son of Shamardal had to pass the field to win after a slow beginning settling in last position. A clear run was provided on the outside and he showed a good turn of foot to beat last year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) runner-up In Swoop, to become the 153rd individual stakes winner for the late Shamardal who died at the age of eighteen last year.