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French Racing and Trotting - Weekly Round-Up

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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 7th September 2021.

Jockey : Mickael Barzalona.
Jockey : Mickael Barzalona. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

This week's round-up covers Group action at Vincennes, exciting mid-week Listed contests at Longchamp and the sixth stage of the Crystal Cup...
 

Date Thursday, September 6, 2021
Venue Longchamp
Race Prix d'Arenberg
Type Listed two-year-old (1000m)
Winner Corazon
Jockey/Driver Mickaël Barzalona
Trainer George Boughey
Breeding Markaz x Disko
Second Dizzy Bizu
Third Illustrating
Corazon provided Markaz a first stakes success in what was a determined effort to fend off Dizzy Bizu under a strong Mickaël Barzalona ride, with the fast-finishing Illustrating grabbing third. The two-year-old filly improved the already growing reputation of trainer George Boughey with this impressive turf debut and there are now a couple of future targets including the G2 Flying Childers (1000m) at Doncaster on Friday (September 10) which may come too quickly for her. She doesn't have a G1 Prix de l'Abbaye (1000m) entry. The filly's dam, Disko (Kodiac), was a juvenile winner who ran fourth in a Newmarket Listed event. Markaz stands at Derrinstown Stud for a fee of €3,000.

 

Date Thursday, September 6, 2021
Venue Longchamp
Race Prix de Liancourt
Type Listed three-year-old
Winner Sibila Spain
Jockey/Driver Olivier Peslier
Trainer Christopher Head
Breeding Frankel x L'Ancresse
Second Omnia Munda
Third Light stars
The talented Sibila Spain – who ran close to securing Group One glory when leading for a long way in the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) – put her career back on track with a dominant success in this easier Listed contest. A daughter of Frankel, she was immediately sent to the front, displaying her usual early pace, and built up a huge lead rounding for home. She was entitled to get a little tired towards the finish but registered a comfortable two-and-a-half-length victory. The G1 Prix de l'Opera (2000m) on Arc weekend is her main target.

 

Date Thursday, September 6, 2021
Venue Longchamp
Race Prix de Lutece
Type G3 three-year-old (3000m)
Winner Esope
Jockey/Driver Stéphane Pasquier
Trainer Hiroo Shimizu
Breeding Galiway x Polemique
Second Tides Of War
Third Gabello
The Hiroo Shimizu-trained Esope was given a good front-running ride in a steadily-run affair, securing a first stakes success. Stéphane Pasquier was allowed to dictate matters on his own terms from the start and kicked for home at the 400m marker. He never saw another rival in a race which may prove lacking in strong form. Galiway stands at Haras de Colleville for a fee of €12,000.

 

Date Friday, September 3, 2021
Venue La Teste de Buch
Race Prix Millkom
Type Listed three-year-old (1600m)
Winner Mouillage
Jockey/Driver Jean-Bernard Eyquem
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeding Toronado x Hazely
Second Leopards Park
Third Izlaz
Mouillage scored a deserved Listed success after a pair of placings in the same company this campaign. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt had to work hard to secure the lead 200m from the finish, before repelling the late thrust of Leopards Park. His dam was a 3200m winner which offers hope of further progress upped in journey at some stage in his career. Toronado stands at Haras de Bouquetot for a fee of €8,000.
Date Friday, September 3, 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race Prix H. Ceran-Maillard
Type Mounted five-year-olds (2175m)
Winner Girly Beco
Jockey/Driver Guillaume Martin
Trainer Maxime Bezier
Breeding Tiego d'Etang x Verveine Gede
Second Granvillaise Bleue
Third Galla de Manche
Girly Beco caused an upset to qualify for the final at Vincennes on September 19. The daughter of Tiego d'Etang had shown little during this term, including in similar mounted contests prior to this shock win. She took up the running 200m from the finish, winning with something in hand and it will be fascinating to see if she can kick on from this pleasing run in the final. It is worth noting that two of her four career victories have now come racing barefoot.

 

Date Saturday, September 4, 2021
Venue La Teste de Buch
Race Prix Occitanie
Type Listed three-year-olds (1900m)
Winner Keyflower
Jockey/Driver Eddy Hardouin
Trainer Mauricio Delcher Sanchez
Breeding Kheleyf x Heather Flower
Second Lingering Dream
Third Trixia de Vega
Keyflower provided her sire Kheleyf with a 22nd individual stakes winner when a gutsy winner of the Prix Occitanie at La Teste de BuchEddy Hardouin had a willing partner who showed bravery to stay on powerfully between rivals nearest to the stands' rail, winning with something to spare. The three-year-old held solid place form in Listed company prior to this success. She is the second foal out of unraced dam Heather Flower, herself out of a winning sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victor Hurricane Run (Montjeu). Kheleyf stood at Haras de Faune this season for a fee of €1,800.

  

Date Saturday, September 4, 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race Critérium des 5 ans
Type G1 walk up for five-year-olds (3000m)
Winner Galius
Jockey/Driver Yoann Lebourgeois
Trainer Séverine Raimond
Breeding Love You x Star de Villeneuve
Second Gangster du Wallon
Third Ganay de Banville
Galius secured a fifteenth career victory, with a Group One win at the first attempt under a good, tactical ride from Yoann Lebourgeois. The Séverine Raimond-trained performer was taken to the front with a circuit of the Parisienne venue to complete, steadily increasing the tempo before having just enough in hand to see off the late challenge of Gangster du Wallon. This was an emotional triumph for the trainer, who gained a first Group One. She had previously invested in the dam of GaliusStar de Villeneuve, at the end of her racing career.

 

Date Saturday, September 4, 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race Prix Victor Regis
Type G2 walk up for three-year-olds (2175m)
Winner Italiano Vero
Jockey/Driver David Thomain
Trainer Philippe Allaire
Breeding Ready Cash x Baraka d'Henlou
Second Inferno Piper
Third Idefix de Centule
Italiano Vero bounced back from a disqualification in August with a comfortable all-the-way success for a sixth Group win of his career for Philippe Allaire under a confident David Thomain ride. The son of Ready Cash crossed the line in a kilometre time of 1'12"2 and continues to impress among the leading three-year-old trotters, a view backed up by his trainer. Philippe commented after the win that he is an exemplary colt, who is often compared to the superstar Face Time Bourbon.

 

Date Saturday, September 4, 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race Prix Uranie
Type G2 walk up for three-year-old filles (2175m)
Winner Ivensong
Jockey/Driver David Thomain
Trainer Philippe Allaire
Breeding Ready Cash x Amy Crown
Second I Love Me
Third I Want You
Philippe Allaire and David Thomain completed back-to-back three-year-old Group prizes on the card with Ivensong who is another progeny of Ready Cash scoring in style. She sat midfield before circling rivals at the end of the back straight and maintained the forward move to put the race to bed at the 100m marker in a kilometre time of 1'12"0, Ivensong equalled the three-year-old record on the 2175m track.

 

Date Saturday, September 4, 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race Prix RMC (Prix de Beaugency)
Type G3 walk up for six-to-ten-year-olds (2850m)
Winner Detroit Castelets
Jockey/Driver Matthieu Abrivard
Trainer Jean Luc Dersoir
Breeding Neoh Jiel x Rosanna Bonheur
Second Feliciano
Third Calle Crown
Detroit Castelets bounced back from a disqualification to register a fourth Group victory and a third success over track and trip. The consistent mare Feerie Wood injected an increased pace entering the back straight for the final time committing a long way from home though just couldn't last in a whirlwind finish. Detroit Castelets and Feliciano finished with a flourish, attacking off the home bend, benefiting from the strong tempo with the former just edged forward at the line, winning for the first time since Laval in 2019.

 

Date Saturday, September 4, 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race Critérium des 4 ans
Type G1 walk up for four-year-olds (2850m)
Winner Hastronaute
Jockey/Driver Matthieu Abrivard
Trainer Yannick Henry
Breeding Booster Winner x Une Etoile Bleue
Second Hanna des Molles
Third Hohneck
Hastronaute caused a surprise when delivering a front-running victory in the four-year-old classic generational championship. The son of Booster Winner maintained a good pace throughout, fending off all challengers in game fashion when looking likely to be collared in the home straight. This was a career best by a big margin. In a remarkable career, he was claimed by Yannick Henry when winning a minor Beaumont-de-Lomagne event for Sébastien Guarato in July last season. Subsequently he has progressed up the ladder but this victory surpasses any expectations. This was a family victory with Yannick Henry's brother-in-law, Matthieu Abrivard, in the sulky.
Date Sunday, September 5, 2021
Venue Craon
Race Prix Super U Craon (Prix Louis de Guebriant)
Type Listed Cross-Country Chase for 5yo+ (6000m)
Winner Doralou des Bordes
Jockey/Driver Alexandre Orain
Trainer Christophe Dubourg
Breeding Vendangeur x Tornade des Bordes
Second Bomari
Third Cap Mix
There was a spectacular conclusion to the sixth stage of the Crystal Cup European cross-country challenge for 2021, with five horses touching down almost together at the final fence of the 6000m stamina test. Doralou des Bordes kept on strongly to see off a determined Bomari on the run-in to enhance a superb track record. This was the winner's third victory at the Pays de la Loire region in western France and a first win in the race for Christophe Dubourg. The Frenchman has capped a remarkable year having bred his first Grade One winner in 2021, when the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene (Denham Red) won the G1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase (3500m) at Leopardstown in February. Doralou des Borde's dam is a daughter of Gamine Royale (Garde Royale), who produced Olivia des Bordes, a Listed chase winner at Auteuil. The next stage will be the G1 Gran Premio Merano (5000m) held at Merano in Italy.

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