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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 8th September 2022.
This week we look at some key upcoming targets for the remainder of the flat season including a host of interesting Japanese challengers.
Flat
Do Deuce is the second of four Japanese contenders for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) to have arrived in France after Stay Foolish who has been here since mid-August and competed in the Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr2). Accompanied by another Japanese horse, My Rhapsody, Do Deuce, a three-year-old will run in the Prix Niel (Gr2) next Sunday prior to a start in the Arc. Yutaka Take will be in the saddle for both races. The five-year-old My Rhapsody, who was a former Classic hopeful in Japan and winner of a G3 at two, will start in the Prix Foy (Gr2) and then compete the weekend of the Arc in a race yet to be determined. He has engagements in the Prix Dollar, Prix Daniel Wildenstein, and Prix de la Forêt.
Recent Deauville winner Sea La Rosa will be targeted at the Prix de Royallieu (Gr1) over 2800m at Longchamp on 1 October.
Marbaan won the Vintage Stakes (Gr2) in July at Goodwood and is set for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1) at Longchamp. Whilst other races were considered, it was determined he follow a similar path to Angel Bleu who also won both races in 2021 without another contest in-between.
Bordeaux Languedoc Derby Listed winner, Night Endeavor has been officially notified as being exported from France to Australia. Originally trained by Jérôme Reynier his new Australian trainers will be Ciaran Maher and David Eustace. The horse has entries in both the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup (Grs1).
Winner of the Prix Ganay, the Prince of Wales's Stakes, the Cox Plate and Saratoga Derby (Grs1) [across four countries] State of Rest has been retired. During a mandatory MRI scan before leaving for Australia to defend his title in the Cox Plate, Racing Victoria vets discovered a problem. This may explain his poor performance in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) at Deauville in mid-August. He will still travel 'down-under' for stud duties and stand at Newgate Farm (part-owners of the horse). In Europe, State of Rest will stand at Rathbarry Stud in Ireland.
Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr2) and Prix de Reux (Gr3) victor, Botanik will travel to Keeneland USA in early November to compete in the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr1, 2,400m). It appears unlikely he will contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Fabre is no stranger to victory in Breeders' Cup events having found success on three occasions with Talismanic, Shirocco and In the Wings.
Tigrais is progressive with three starts for two wins including her maiden and then winning the Prix la Rochette (G3) at Longchamp last Sunday. She is entered for both the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère and Prix Marcel Boussac (Grs1) on 'Arc' day so therefore has options to race over either 1400m or 1600m.
Winner of the Grand Prix de Vichy (G3) in July, Riocorvo finished second to Monty at Longchamp on Sunday in the La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (G3). Connections are now considering a start at Keeneland in a Breeders Cup event, where speed and a firm track are to be factors.
Big Call, winner of the Prix Gladiateur (G3) on Sunday at Longchamp will next be targeted at the Prix Royal Oak (G1). There is the prospect of softer ground and another opportunity to tackle the same distance.
It was originally planned that Tashkhan compete in the Melbourne Cup (Gr1) in November, but connections have reviewed their plans and he will now be directed towards the Prix du Cadran (Gr1) over 4000m. Tashkhan raced in last years' Prix Chaudenay (Gr2) where he finished fifth and was fourth in the Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Gr2) at York in the UK. He is a horse seeking softer ground.
Trotting
Anthony Barrier had a memorable meeting last Wednesday at Les Sables-d'Olonne where he drove three winners, the most notable being Galet Sted with the horse and driver combination recording their fifth victory during July and August. He remains undefeated since joining, at the end of last spring, the stable of Charles-Antoine Mary. Other winners for Barrier that evening were Galata sulky and Hautbrion Colmi (also trained by Charles-Antoine Mary).
Jag Stryck has recovered from recent injury issues and is now being set to return in the Critérium des 3 Ans on Sunday week at Vincennes. Fourth attempting the Prix Albert Viel (G1) in June he has qualified to run in the feature Group One.
Jumping
Third in the 2021 Grand Prix d'Automne (Gr1), Folsom Prison ran twice during spring for a fifth place in the Prix Hypothesis (Gr3) and Léon Rambaud (Gr2). The Yannick Fouin-trained horse will make his comeback on September 24 in the Prix de Compiègne (Gr3).
Trainer Marcel Rolland's is targeting Colbert du Berlais, absent since his second place in the Prix La Barka (Gr2) for the Prix de Compiegne (G3) while Ma Beauté, winner of the Prix Hopper (Gr3) and fourth in the Prix La Périchole (Gr3) is to resume September 24. Inès du Chênet finished an excellent second in the Prix Questarabad (Gr3) and will be targeting the Prix Renaud du Vivier (Gr1).
The Grand Steeplechase of Flanders was conducted last Tuesday (30 August) at Waregem in Belgium. A regular visitor to the podium at Waregem, French trainer Patrice Quinton had to surrender his crown after an amazing ten consecutive victories to fellow French trainer, François Nicolle, who achieved a first success in the 4600m race when Polinuit won. He was ridden by Angelo Zuliani.
