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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 24th November 2021.

This week's News In Brief features driver David Bekaert, ex-basketball star Tony Parker, Face Time Bourbon's success, developments on the Hong Kong Jockey's International challenge and much more…

Tony Parker 

After launching his racing team, Infinity Nine Horses, ex-basketball star Tony Parker has purchased stud farm Haras de Quétieville in Normandy and will be taking a step forward into the breeding industry. French professional basketball star Nicolas Batum is to join him.  

David Bekaert 

Southern based trotting driver David Bekaert steered his 100th winner of the year courtesy of Inato Pierji (Uniclove) at Saint-Galmier last week. This is personal achievement and is the ninth driver this season to reach this landmark. 

So French 

Three-time Grade One-winning chaser So French suffered a fatal injury at Bordeaux on Sunday (Nov 21). James Reveley - who guided So French (Poliglote) to G1 Grand Steeple-chase de Paris (6000m) success at Auteuil in 2017 – took to twitter to pay respect: "We lost him where he was in his element, on the racecourse. He was a magnificent horse and competitor. RIP champion". 

Prix d'Amérique Races Qualif 1 Prix de Bretagne 

Face Time Bourbon 

The two-time G1 Grand Prix d'Amérique (2700m) champion shaved a further second off the record time of the G2 Prix d'Amérique Races Qualfier1 - Prix de Bretagne (2700m) when winning in a kilometre rating of 1'11''4. Roxane Griff held the previous time record with a 1'12''5 which stood for nine years since 2012. Face Time Bourbon remains undefeated in seven starts at Vincennes. 

Qualifying horses 

Face Time Bourbon, Etonnant and Ganay de Banville gained qualification to the three classics at the Vincennes Winter Meeting when finishing in the top three (in that order) on Sunday. The three are now qualified for the G1 Prix de France Speed Race (2100m) and the G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4150m) along with the biggest event, the G1 Grand Prix d'Amérique (2700m). 

Argentan on Sunday 21 November 

It was a day of firsts at Argentan on Sunday with trainers and jockeys shedding their maiden tags. 

Marine Siron 

Marine Siron, a trainer since January 2020 recorded her first success on Sunday (Nov 21st) when Isidor, a three-year-old AQPS horse won the Prix du Haras de Grandcour Hurdle
(3600m) at Argentan. 

Manon Doudard 

Nineteen-year-old Manon Doudard, recorded his first success winning the Prix de Londres Chase (4250m) steering Hibiza de Niel to glory also on Sunday (Nov 21st) at Argentan. 

Alexandre Robert 

Half an hour later, Alexandre Robert (twenty years old) also scored for the first time when onboard Google de Loued in the Prix du Haras de Nonant-le-Pin Chase (4250m) restricted to amateur riders. 

Danish Melody 

The Philippe Allaire trained two-year-old Danish Melody found Group One success when winning at Rome (Italy) on Saturday in the Gran Premio Anact Femmine – Finale (1640m). The daughter of Brillantissime out of Gilly Lb was driven by Andrea Guzzinati. 

Didier Guillemin 

Trainer, Didier Guillemin recorded his 1000th triumph when Flying Candy (Dabirsim) scored at Fontainebleau last Thursday (Nov 18th). He has had 5741 runners since being granted a Licence in 2011, producing an impressive 17% strike-rate. 

Girly Béco 

Girly Béco, winner of the mounted G1 Prix des Elites (2200m) in September, will sadly be absent from the Vincennes Winter meeting. Maxime Bézier announced that she developed tendonitis. Her return to the track is aimed for next spring. 

Hong Kong 

Mickaël Barzalona 

Mickaël Barzalona will represent France this year in the Hong Kong International jockeys challenge on Wednesday 8 December at Sha Tin. This will be his fourth participation in the event. Others in attendance include Ryan Moore, Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle for Great Britain, Damian Lane for Australia, Yuga Kawada for Japan, as well as representatives from New Zealand and South Africa. Covid-19 restrictions are still in place in Hong Kong. The "racing bubble" will again be implemented, similar to last year. 

Christophe Soumillon 

Christophe Soumillon is another jockey who will travel for the G1 Hong Kong Cup on Sunday 12 December to ride the Japanese star, Lei Papale (Deep Impact), winner of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m).  

Hirondelle Sibey 

Originally scheduled to run in the G1 Gran Premio Unione Europa at Modena in Italy this weekend, she has suffered from a foot abscess and will miss the race. She will return to Vincennes in either the G2 Prix Ariste Hémard (restricted to fillies) on 12 December of go straight into the Critérium Continental on 26 December. Hooker Berry will be the sole French representative in the Italian race on Sunday.  

Policy of Truth 

Promising three-year-old and competitor in both the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulines (1600m) and G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), Policy of Truth is being aimed to return to the track next spring. He suffered problems and has been turned out since. Trainer Pia Brandt is looking forward to his return to track.  

Mathieu Mottier 

Mathieu Mottier remains on target to retain his Golden Stirrup championship for 2021. He has now achieved 100 winners in the saddle, a number not seen since Philippe Masschaele rode to a similar number in the early part of this century.