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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 14th December 2022.

This week, the News In Brief includes trotting star Just A Gigolo winning the inaugural running of the Prix Ready Cash (G1), trainer Thierry Duvaldestin and the International meeting in Hong Kong.

Trotting

Last Sunday at Vincennes, the inaugural running of the Prix Ready Cash (G1) took place. This race replaced the Prix de l'Etoile (G1), which itself was replaced by the Critérium des 3 Ans (G1) in September. The Prix Ready Cash (G1) remains registered as the Prix de l'Etoile (G1). On this basis, it is possible to make a comparison and to place exactly where Just A Gigolo is rated against history. He is the first colt since the 1960s to win the Critérium des Jeunes, the Prix Albert Viel, the Critérium des 3 Ans and, therefore, the Prix de l'Etoile, now the Prix Ready Cash, in the same year. In other words, four Group 1's! Two fillies have been able to achieve this – Pearl Queen in 2006, and Vanika du Ruel in 2012. Ready Cash himself was unable to make it four in a row in 2008, winning the Critérium des Jeunes, the Prix Albert Viel and the Critérium des 3 Ans but failing in the Prix de l'Etoile.

Trainer Thierry Duvaldestin achieved his 200th winner of the season when Karma Quick won at Laval. This is the third time his stable has been able to achieve this number of victories in a year having previously succeeded in 2009 and 2021. Overall, Laurent Abrivard (171) and Patrick Terry (156) make up the top three (and each have had their best seasons).

Florian Desmigneux is having his best season. A personal target for 2022 of 63 winners was set to reach the 300 victories milestone. This has been achieved. In addition, he also gained the position as the principle mounted jockey for Jean-Paul Marmion. His 300th winner was achieved on Iresine du Lupin. In his career to date, Fifty Five Bond has provided nine wins and Inès des Rioults two G2 successes.

Clegs des Champs returned to the track in the Prix Paul Buquet (G2) where he finished third and will next race in the Prix Jules Lemonnier (G2) on December 24. Now a ten-year-old, he will have few opportunities before compulsory retirement is enforced next March. Another aged horse, Ce Bello Romain will contest the Prix Jean Dumouch (G3) on 24 December following a G2 failure at Wolvega in The Netherlands.

Last Friday at Vincennes, Clara Dersoir won her first race at 'headquarters' riding Ina du Rib, a filly trained by her grandfather Joël Hallais. The filly has always shown plenty of ability but has suffered injury and higher hopes are held for her. Prior to Friday, Clara had ridden four second placings at Vincennes.

Flat

With the end of the season in site, the last of the flat Listed races are to be run at Deauville on Thursday. Trainer Jérôme Reynier will line up two runners in the Prix Arcangues (L). Stormy Pouss, a previous Listed winner at Marseille and last start third on very soft ground in a Class 2 over 2400m at Salon-de-Provence along with Beholding not seen since April is expected to be ready to run a forward race. It should be noted Stormy Pouss is expected to be retired following the race.

France had two runners in Hong Kong for the International meeting on Sunday, Botanik and Bubble Gift, with both horses taking their places in the Hong Kong Vase (G1) over 2400m. Botanik, winner of the Grand Prix de Deauville (G2), put in a strong performance to finish second beaten 1.5L whilst Bubble Gift wasn't beaten far into sixth.

Promising horse Galaxie Gold has been sold to Australian interests and left France. Winning at Pau on the all-weather, he ran second in the Prix Hocquart (G2) last April and finished sixth in the Prix Eugène Adam (G2) and fourth in the Grand Prix du Nord (L).

Everything Counts, an impressive winner on the AW at Deauville caught the eye of Australian based OTI Management and leading French owner Gerard Augustin-Normand. Since the win, they have each acquired 25% of the colt and he will remain with trainer Pia Brandt for his three-year-old campaign with the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) his initial target.