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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 28th September 2022.

This week the News In Brief includes updates on the upcoming weekend at Longchamp plus a milestone for trotting trainer, James Lebouteiller.

Flat

Winner of four Group races, Skazino has been set another G1 target – the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp on Saturday. Following a third in the Prix Kergorlay (Gr2) at Deauville last month, he will attempt the 4000m race, an event he finished fourth in last year. Connections have no concern regarding track conditions.

Simca Mille, winner of the Prix Niel (Gr2) and second in the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), will not be supplemented for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Instead, he has accepted the invitation of Japan Racing Association (JRA) for the Japan Cup to be run on Sunday, November 27. It is interesting that connections had the Prix Niel as a specific target and not a prep race for the Arc. The invitation from the JRA was then received and after consideration, accepted. Simca Mille will not have another start before the race.

Irésine, last start winner of the Prix Foy (Gr2) defeating Bubble Gift and Verry Elleegant (both Prix of the Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) contenders) will now be set for the Prix Royal Oak (G1) to be run at the end of October. Following that, he could then travel to Japan or Hong Kong. Irésine has received an invitation to compete in the Japan Cup (Gr1) at the end of November.

Coeur de Pierre finished second in the Prix du Petit Couvert (Gr3) at Longchamp three weeks ago and connections are favouring a start in the Prix de l'Abbaye on Sunday over other potential lesser level races during the coming weeks. A final decision will depend on the weather and state of the track. Coeur de Pierre won a Listed contest at Deauville in August.

Sweet Lady, winner of the Prix Vermeille (Gr1) at Longchamp two weeks ago will bypass the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) and target the Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot (UK) in mid-October.

Last Thursday at Lyon-Parilly the winner of the Prix des Pensées, Dschingis Fear, gave his sire Dschingis Secret, his first race win. He initially stood at Haras de Saint-Arnoult and since this year was domiciled at Haras de Montaigu priced €4000 for flat mares and €2500 for jumping mares. To date only two-years-olds have raced. In France he has had four starters with three collecting prizemoney.

Trotting

At Marseille-Borély last Wednesday, Gaëtan recorded his ninth consecutive victory, all being in amateur driver races and driven by Gisèle Ambrogio. The pair remain undefeated since the winning streak began on March 12. Two other horses have also recorded nine successes this season in amateur driver events – Flicka du Perche and Edison d'Ebane.

First granted a trainer's licence in 2008, James Lebouteiller, reached the milestone of 500 victories as a driver/jockey last Sunday week at Cholet winning with Intuition Magic. Meanwhile his daughter, Lucie Lebouteiller, recorded her first race victory in July when Has de Cambes won at La Hippodrome Chapel.

At Bologna in Italy, French trained horses were to the fore. Carlomagno by Esi, prepared by Laurent Abrivard in the Gran Premio Continentale (Gr.1) [for four-year-olds] had previously finished fourth in the Prix de Geneva (Gr.3) at Enghien which was won by Izoard Védaquais with Callmethebreeze and Italiano Vero filling the placings. Starting from the inside autostart draw he won convincingly.

Gaining a 50th victory is synonymous with integration into the ranks of professionals, and last Sunday Antonin André and Tristan Ouvrie both achieved this. At Evreux, André won in the sulky on Halakova, a horse trained by his employer Vincent Viel. Ouvrie was successful at Lisieux with Jolvik de Guez (Késaco Phedo) owned by Jean-Michel Bazire.

Jumping

Winner of Prix Durtain (L) over hurdles and Prix James Hennessy (L) steeplechase, the talented Royale Margaux was clearly the best French chance last weekend in Merano (Italy). The David Cottin trained runner won the Corsa Siepi dei 4 Anni and was ridden by Kevin Nabet. After unintentionally being left out in front she was able to win by seven lengths.