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Weekly Review of French Racing.
The last week in French racing delivered both quality and quantity including the G1 Critérium de Saint Cloud and G1 Critérium International as well as over 20 more Black Type races! …
Flat
The G3 Prix des Réservoirs (1600m) for two-year-old fillies opened Deauville's programme on Tuesday last week with Charley Rossi gaining another notable success in the age group as Rougir continued to improve following a third behind stablemate Tiger Tanaka in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m). The Rossi yard can look forward to an exciting three year-old campaign with both runners. Rougir is Territories' first ever winner while this was his second black type success as a sire.
Another key two-year-old contest was the Listed Prix Zeddaan (1200m) where Prince Lancelot produced a performance worth noting when going to the lead 300 metres out and finishing strongly to take victory for jockey Stéphane Pasquier and trainer Fabrice Chappet. This gave Cornerstone Stud's Sir Prancealot his ninth stakes winner. Purchased for €90,000 at the 2019 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, the colt is out of Moss Vale who is a daughter of Group 3 winner Rainbows For All.
Twenty-four hours later, Deauville hosted the Listed Prix Isonomy (1600m) for two-year olds with Godolphin's Parchemin rising from maiden company at Compiegne to a black type victory. It was a hard-fought battle with Colosseo, who finished a nose behind.
The Listed Prix Vulcain (2500m) for three-year olds produced a shock result as Directa had a hidden gear of speed which was unleashed in the home straight and very quickly pulled away.
Nantes held two black type races on Saturday. The first was the G3 non-thoroughbred Prix de l'Avenir (2400m) for three-year olds which Hotel Dieu was a clear and impressive winner.
The feature on the Nantes programme was the Listed Grand Prix de Nantes (11e Etape du Défi du Galop) (2400m). Ten-year-old Mille et Mille lead the field on the stand side rail for an authoritative triumph. Winner of the 2015 G1 Prix Du Cadran (4000m) and fourth in the 2016 G1 Ascot Gold Cup (4000m), the experienced campaigner demonstrated he still retained ability.
On Saturday Saint Cloud ran five Group races which included the G1 Critérium de Saint Cloud and the G1 Critérium International on heavy ground.
Proceedings commenced with the G3 Prix Perth (1600m) for three-year olds and above. German horse Jin Jin made it six starts for six wins and is progressive. Having his first start in France and first Group race he led throughout. Jin Jin denied the well supported and former holder of the Critérium International crown, Alson who finished second. This was a notable step up in class for the Bohumil Nedorostek-trained four-year-old and is a horse to follow.
The promising Zaykava was slightly disappointing in the G3 Prix de Flore (2100m) for filles and mares as Grand Glory was a well named winner for Pierre-Charles Boudot and trainer Gianluca Bietolini. By Olympic Glory, she registered her first win since taking out the Listed Prix Zarkava (2000m) at Longchamp in May (ironically, that race was named after the favourite Zaykava's dam). Previously she had finished third in the G1 Prix De Diane Longines (2000m) in 2019. A filly with a touch of class.
Believe In Love by Topka notched up her fifth win of the year and a first in Stakes company when making a successful journey across the Channel to take victory in the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit (2800m). Trained in Newmarket by Roger Varian, the filly gave her sire, Make Believe a fifth stakes win. He stands at Ballylinch Stud for a fee of €12,000. The three-year-old has been extremely progressive this year – from a class four handicap on the all-weather at Kempton to a great third in the G2 Park Hill (3000m) at Doncaster.
The two Group Ones, both for two-year-olds did not disappoint.
First up was the G1 Critérium International (1600m) for two-year olds with Aiden O'Brien adding a fifth success in the G1 event with Van Gogh. This marked a second elite level winner for US Triple Crown hero American Pharoah as a stallion. Already placed three times in Group company, the juvenile won for the second time in seven starts beating Normandy Bridge by a comfortable four lengths.
Mark Johnston had a weekend to remember in France which commenced by landing the G1 Critérium de Saint Cloud (2000m) when Gear Up was a surprise winner. He was recording his third success in four starts when just edging out Botanik. This gave Teofilo his nineteenth elite level triumph for the Darley Kildangan Stud stallion. The Johnston trained two-year-old may have the 2021 G1 Epsom Derby (2400m) as an early target. The G1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) winner Tiger Tanaka was not disgraced in fourth and she loomed-up but was unable to run out the trip. The first five home were not beaten far.
Toulouse staged three Arab Group events on Saturday morning. The opening G3 Prix Nevada II (1600m) for three-year-old fillies went to Jalela who was a clear and classy winner. This was followed by the G3 Prix Chéri Bibi (1600m) for three-year colts with an exciting finish as the field were spread across the home straight. It was Hm Jalfane who grabbed victory on the line. The best was saved to last with the G1 French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic (2200m). The well supported Hattal was too good for the field and delivered a two-length success.
Irish raider Baron Samedi scored at Paris-Longchamp in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris (2200m) for three-year olds and above. It was a duel in the closing stages with Mare Australis with only a head splitting the pair. This was a first Group winner in France for young Irish trainer, Joseph O'Brien.
The final Group One flat race of the season was held at Paris-Longchamp later in the afternoon, the G1 Prix Royal-Oak (3100m) for three-year-olds and above. Subjectivist showed a game attitude to make all and provide trainer Mark Johnston with his second G1 victory in France on the weekend. This was significant progress for the son of Teofilo which provided the Darley based sire his twentieth individual elite-level winner. The three-year-old, who races in the colours of Hong Kong-based Dr Jim Walker, won for the fourth time in fifteen starts.
The quality action continued on Monday at Marseilles-Borley. Stormy Pouss passed his four rivals to take a narrow victory in the Listed Prix Delahante (1800m) for two-year olds.
The Listed Grand Prix des Provinces - Prix André Baboin (12e Etape du Défi du Galop) (2000m) for three years and above went to Top Max who utilised the inside running rail throughout thanks to a great ride from Pierre-Charles Boudot.
Trotting
The G3 Prix Timocharis (2700m) for three-year olds commenced Vincennes' fixture last Tuesday when the well supported son of Royal Dream (winner of the 2013 G1 Prix d'Amerique) Hohneck quickened away from his rivals in impressive fashion.
Friday at Vincennes saw the first Group races conducted for the season for two-year-olds.
The Philippe Billard trained Idéal Ligneries maintained his winning record with a fifth success. He controlled the field for a cosy success in the G3 Prix Louis Cauchois (2200m).
Thirty minutes later it was the fillies turn in the G3 Prix Marcel Dejean (2200m) where trainer Philippe Allaire achieved a one-two with It's Now or Never nosing out stablemate Italienne on the final stride. The daughter of Charly du Noyer followed up a previous course and distance victory.
The G3 International Grand Prix du Centre-Est (2700m) for six to ten-year olds marked the start of the Lyon La Soie meeting on Sunday afternoon with Cash Du Rib delivering a good effort on the outside to produce a clear win. Jean Loïc Dersoir travelled more than 700 kilometres to the track which paid off as this was his first Group victory as a driver since December 2013.
Jump
Compiegne hosted two feature events on Tuesday with the going described as heavy. The first was the Listed Prix Vatalys chase (3350m) for three years olds where G1 Prix Grande Course De Haies d'Auteuil Hurdle winning trainer, David Cottin continued his good run with Hawai Tree. The colt was in last place at the final jump and accelerated past his remaining three rivals.
Francois Nicolle produced the first three home in the Listed Prix Dominique Sartini hurdle (3600m) for four-year olds with Born To Hold leading the trio in the closing stages. His jumping throughout caught the eye and he looks a promising type.
Beau Gosse and Garasil fought out the Auteuil feature on Thursday in The Listed Prix Claude Le Lorrain - Joseph Audon hurdle (3900m) for five-year olds and upwards. It was the former who prevailed for the Patrice Quinton stable.
On the same card at Auteuil, the Listed Prix Santo Pietro handicap hurdle (3600m) took place. Becquarainbow finished off very strongly stealing victory from UK raider, Zurekin. The pair reversed their placings after meeting in the course and distance Listed Prix Guillaume de Pracomtal handicap hurdle three weeks ago.
