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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 29th June 2022.
This week, the News In Brief includes Alec Head, Australia's champion race mare Verry Elleegant and the Trophee Vert at Le Touquet.
Turf
Alec Head
Alec Head has passed away at the age of 97. One of the key figures within French racing, as a trainer he was successful winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on four occasions. He was a jockey and a trainer for more than seventy years and is the father of Freddy and Criquette and the grandfather of Christopher (son of Freddy).
Apart from being a trainer, he was also a successful owner and breeder. His best homebred at the family stud, Haras du Quesnay, was Treve, dual winner of the Arc in 2013 & 2014 before starting favourite but unsuccessful when attempting to make it three successive victories in the great race.
He received multiple awards within horseracing and was also honoured in France when he was created a chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur which is the highest civilian award in France.
Australia's champion race mare Verry Elleegant could make her European debut at Deauville in the Prix Rothschild (G1) up the straight over 1600m on Tuesday, 2 August. The race is restricted to fillies and mares. It is understood that the mare has settled well at Chantilly based at the Francis-Henri Graffard yard and is ahead of her expected programme. Last weekend she galloped on the grass at Chantilly for the first time. There are plenty of French and British G1 options for the versatile mare to race during the summer and autumn, ranging in distance from 1600m to 2800m.
Recent second in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2), Bubble Gift is set to compete on Sunday in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud with stablemate Bubble Smart having a short break following her seventh in the Ascot Gold Cup (G1) and will return for the Prix Gladiateur (Gr3) with autumn targets of the Prix du Cadran and Prix Royal-Oak, both G1 races.
On just his fifth race ride, apprentice Dorian Provost found success for the first time Saturday at Compiègne in the Prix Foundation Claude Pompidou Handicap aboard the Yann Barberot trained Almanfata who was having his fourth race start. The apprentice is the son of former jockey Damien Provost.
Pure Dignity – by Dubawi from the good producing Starlet's Sister – debuted at Newmarket (UK) on Friday and was an impressive winner. Well-bred, she is a half-sister to proven top-class horses including My Sister Nat, a Longchamp G3 winner, Sistercharlie, who raced in France winning to G3 and second in the 2017 Prix de Diane (G1) before continuing her racing career in the United States and 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Sottsass, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget.
Japanese horse Bathrat Leon has been nominated to compete in both the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Glorious Goodwood (UK) and the Deauville feature, Prix Jacques Le-Marois (Gr1). His travelling companion will be King Hermes, a three-year-old colt, and winner to G2 last season. He will initially contest the July Cup (Gr1) at Newmarket and then the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) at Deauville. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi has tasted international success races in the United States, Australia, Dubai, And Saudi Arabia. Last year he finished third with Entscheiden in the Prix de la Forêt (Gr1) at Longchamp on Arc day. Historically, Japanese horses have won just two feature G1 races at Deauville, both in 1998 when Seeking the Pearl scored in the Maurice de Gheest and Taiki Shuttle in the 'Marois'.
Mother Earth, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Prix Rothschild (both G1's) last year has been retired. The filly raced 21 times, including on fourteen occasions at Gr1 level winning or placing seven times at the elite level.
UK galloper Eydon will be targeting the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano [August 15 at Deauville]. Connections have previously won this race with Mishriff.
Winner of the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot over 1000m, Dramatised, is to be targeted toward the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville in August. Based on her breeding, the extra 200m won't be a problem, especially on the flat straight course. She may have a trial race in the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) at Chantilly in mid-July or at Goodwood later that month.
Due to the firm going, trainer David Menuisier chose not to run Ottilien in the Prix de Diane (Gr1). An option may be to step her up to 2400m in the Prix Malleret (Gr2) at Longchamp July 14 with the Prix de Royallieu (Gr1) over 2800m on Arc weekend being her end of season goal, a race her trainer has previously won with Wonderful Tonight in 2020.
Trotting
Alexander Pillon trained his first Group One winner when Jelyson won the Prix d'Essai on Sunday at Vincennes. A family affair, owners include his wife Margaux and prominent trainers of jump horses David Cottin (her brother) and Phillipe Cottin (her father). This was the third horse Alexander had trained G1 level with his best previous performance last year being Georgica Gédé in the Prix des Centaures where she finished second.
At Vincennes on Sunday two records were equaled in the Prix de Normandie (Happy And Lucky) and in the Prix René Ballière (Vivid Wise As).
Adrien Lamy had a memorable day on Sunday, and the best of his career to date when he won two Group One races – both mounted – Prix de Normandie on Happy and Lucky and Prix du Président de la Républic under saddle on Intuition.
The 8th stage of the Trophee Vert was conducted at Le Touquet on Sunday. Galago du Cadran was successful rating 1'18"3 defeating Filou du Berger and Etoile Rouge.
Drawing to the mid-point of the 2022 Season, and following the feature summer meeting at Vincennes, the leading stallion is Ready Cash with 94 wins and €3,064 845 in prizemoney, Royal Dream 88 wins and €2,576,250 with Love You third 97 victories but €2,472,100 prizemoney.
The Sébastien Guarato trained Iway will be a runner in the Gran Premio Triossi (G1) in Rome over 2100m on Wednesday. He arrives in the race a last start winner tackling the same distance at Argentan. Drawn to start from Gate 2 he will be driven by Gian Paolo Minucci. This is a big ask for the colt as he will face the best four-year-olds Italy has on offer.
Ce Bello Romain disappointed attempting the Kymi Grand Prix (Gr. 1) in Finland, a race he was trying to retain his title, and has undergone blood tests following his return to France in an effort to discover a reason for his poor performance. Trained in Angevin by Sylvain Dupond the horse is reportedly appearing to be healthy in himself, however, will miss an upcoming feature race (Trot à Grande Vitesse) at La Capelle on July 10. There are two summer options he will be targeted – either the Prix de Washington (G2) at Enghien on 30 July or the Grand Prix de Wallonia (Gr. 1) at Mons in Belgium the following day.
Jeune Demoiselle gave trainer Emmanuel Varin his first winner at Vincennes last Tuesday week in the Prix Chaldae. Ridden by Eric Raffin, this was her tenth race start and first victory. On the same card, the Varin/Raffin combination were again able to team up and win with five-year-old gelding Hartford successful in the Claiming contest.
Jumping
Docteur de Ballon, dual winner of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris (G1) has not been seen since finding success in the race May 2021. He has been undertaking a lengthy break following a health issue. Trained by Louisa Carberry, any return will be gradual and targeted for the Grand Steeplechase in 2023. Docteur de Ballon will not race in the autumn.
Some Operator is undefeated in two cross country outings (both at Corlay) and winner of the Grand Cross de Corlay in 2021. Away from the track following that race he will be prepared for the famous Cross-Country race held in the Czech Republic at Pardubice (L) in October.
G2 and twice G3 winner Latino des Isles suffered a paddock injury last week and unfortunately couldn't be saved. Trained by Arnaud Chaillé Chaillé, Latino des Isles won on debut at Compiègne and then progressed to win the Prix Congress (Gr2) by 20L, Prix Duc d'Anjou and the Prix Fleuret (G3's) before finishing third in the Prix Jean Stern (Gr2). His last start was in the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Gr1) where he finished fourth.
Fourth of the 2019 edition of the Prix Cambacérès (Gr1), but not seen since, Sangennaro is back in training with Marcel Rolland and aiming to prepare for the autumn. At three, he won the Prix Finot (L), then the Prix Talhouët-Roy (Gr2). Another stable representative, Inès du Chênet who finished second in the Prix Questarabad (Gr3) will be targeted for feature hurdle races in the autumn whilst Colbert du Berlais, second in the Prix La Barka (Gr2) will also stay over hurdles and not be switched at this stage of his career to the taller fences.
Winner of four of his six outings over hurdles Born to Hold including the Prix Durtain (L) and Dominique Sartini (L) in 2020 is expected to return to competition in the second half of the season following a tendon injury.
Zurekin finished third in the Prix La Barka (Gr2) when trained by Sophie Leech. He is now to be trained by Louisa Carberry and will return to work during the coming week.
