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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 2nd March 2021.
Over the past seven days, there has been Group action at Vincennes and the start of the 2021 jumping season at Auteuil...
Trotting
Vincennes staged the G3 Mounted Prix d'Avenches (2175m) for four-year-olds last Tuesday. The well supported Hilyrose d'Icelea broke stride in the very early stages and there were multiple notable disqualifications throughout. Hacker Boy and Eric Raffin made a bold move with 600m to go and duelled with Hora Bot Eur Moël down the home straight, getting up in the final 50 metres giving the son of Akim du Cap Vert a second consecutive victory.
Cagnes-sur-Mer began a high-quality duel-code weekend on Friday with the G3 Prix Pierre-Désiré Allaire (Prix de Joinville le Pont) (2925m) for six-to eleven-year-olds the highlight. Elsa de Belfonds and Bulle de Laumont shared the pace setting duties throughout with the eventual winner Alcoy held up about seven lengths behind the leader with a circuit to go.
The Vincent Martens trained seven-year-old made good progress down the back straight and closed quickly under driver, Christophe Martens. Taking the final turn, three horses wide, the son of Ready Cash came with a powerful run on the outside and had just enough to deny the fast closing, Colonel (subsequently disqualified) and Elsa de Belfonds (eventual runner up). This further enhanced Ready Cash's stallion ability with yet another Group success.
It was an eventful start to Sunday's card at Vincennes as the short-priced race favourite Gladys des Plaines finished first past the post in the G2 Mounted Prix Paul Bastard (2700m) for five-year-olds. The Gilles Curens trained filly was subsequently disqualified after stewards reviewed the horse's action in the home straight. That left the door open for Grâce de Faël who was just denied after a sustained dual down the stretch. The daughter of Sam Bourbon was provided a first success at Group Two level and it will be no surprise to see a step up to Group One company in the future.
The drama continued well into the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (4150m), a driven race open to four- to eleven-year-olds. As the field finally went away at the third time of asking for this race, the final leg of the Prix d'Amérique Triple Crown, it was Etonnant who set out to make the running at a steady tempo. The Richard Westerink trained seven-year-old would go on to make-all and barely see a rival as one by one the challengers were turned away.
The dynamic of the race changed as favourite Davidson du Pont was disqualified mid race. Etonnant's regular driver Anthony Barrier maintained the steady fractions controlling the race from start to finish and the pair kicked clear down the back straight for a cosy success. It was a first Group One success for the son of Timoko following a second in the G1 Mounted Prix de l'Ile-de-France (2175m). Diable de Vauvert finished off well for second whilst Moni Viking completed the podium.
The final black-type trotting race of the weekend saw Bjorn Goop steer the Italian based Allegra Wf to victory in the G3 Prix Reverdy (Prix de la Mayenne) (2700m) for five and six year-olds. Well positioned throughout, just off the leaders, the daughter of Varenne took it up late into the home straight. It was a first Group race success for the Vitale Ciotola trained five-year-old filly and with the prospect of further improvement to come it will be no shock if she went on to compete at the top level.
Flat
Cagnes-sur-Mer continued their big weekend with the first round of the Défi du Galop races for 2021 run on the turf track. The Listed Grand Prix du Département 06 - Défi du Galop 2021 (2500m) for four-year-olds and above was the focus on the afternoon. The favourite obliged as Ateem travelled the best and showed good attitude to take victory.
The six-year-old son of Dark Angel was keen in the early stages under jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot who shared third position and he steered to be on the outside group on the far side. The pace was quickening quickly as they turned into the home straight, but the François Monfort trained gelding pulled away and proved too strong to gain a ninth career win securing a first Black type success.
Jumps
Auteuil began their 2021 season on Monday with two Black type events.
The season got underway with the Listed Handicap Hurdle Prix Beugnot (3600m) which would go on to provide a thrilling finish between Bonaparte Sizing and the eventual runner-up Magistador. Celtior finished back in third. The Jehan Bertran De Balanda trained seven-year-old had won the Listed Prix Prince D'Ecouen (3900m) at the same track last October.
Always well-positioned throughout by jockey Morgan Regairaz the late Alan Potts owned gelding looked booked for a placing up the run in. However, with stamina assured he went on to run down Magistador in the tightest of finishes.
Third in this race last season it would be no surprise were he to follow a similar route going forward this campaign with similar black type events on the shortlist.
In a day of excellent finishes the G3 Steeplechase Prix Robert De Clermont – Tonner (4400m) would not disappoint. With steady fractions set throughout only a handful of lengths remained between the runners over the final flight. Four contenders drew away from the pack and set to battle out the finish with 100m to go. It would be Lageneste & Macaire trained Feu Follet who went on to land the spoils saddling the first pair home.
The G1 Prix Maurice Gillois - Grand Steeplechase Des 4 Ans (4400m) runner-up Galleo Conti quickened up smartly between rivals under Baptiste Le Clerc, looking to have the race in safe keeping. However, it was to be second place again as stablemate Feu Follet responded to Nathalie Desoutter's urgings to win going away by half a length. The nine-year-old Poly Grandchamp finished in third.
Not only did the race bring up a spectacular achievement for trainers Lageneste & Macaire the duo is owned by the brilliant supporter of all horse-codes Pierre Pilarski.
The pair will most likely be aimed toward the upcoming spring feature races with the G2 Prix Murat (3800m) a potential target in April.