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French Racing and Trotting - Weekly Round-Up

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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 25th May 2021.

Picture: Racing Photos

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 EnableGod 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'AubonnièreHeloy DelabarrièreQueen 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.

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