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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 7th April 2021.
This week's news-in-brief includes round two of the Grand National du Trot, Frankel stallion updates, French form at the All-Weather Championship Finals day and the beginning of the Trophy Vert plus much more…
Grand National du Trot
Round two of the Grand National du Trot took centre stage last Wednesday at Marseille-Borély. The Group Three 3000m event went to Décoloration after showing a brave attitude in the home straight when seeing off Eliot d'Ambri by the shortest margin. Producing a kilometre rating of 1'12''4, Décoloration established a course and distance record. The last title holder was Bulle de Laumont, winner of this same event in 2019 in 1'12''9.
The eight-year-old mare is one of just seventeen trotters to have achieved four successes during the Vincennes Winter meeting, with only Hallix (6 successes), Face Time Bourbon (5) and Epsom d'Herfraie (5) having done better.
East River
East River set the 2250m Mounted record at Enghien when winning the Prix du Pont de Grenelle. A possible target could be the Prix du Calvados at Caen on Wednesday 19 May.
Big Five
Juddmonte Farm's Frankel (Galileo) sired his 61st stakes winner on Monday at Chantilly when Big Five won the Listed Prix Right Royal (3000m) for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard who produced an impressive five and half-length success.
Big Five has a notable pedigree out of G3 winner Louvain (Sinndar) who has produced six other winners including dual G1 hero Flotilla (Mizzen Mast). Louvain was sold for $35,000 (US) to Red Bull Bloodstock at the Keeneland January Horses Of All Ages Sale earlier this year.
There was further success for Frankel, gaining his thirteenth Group One win as a stallion on Saturday when Hungry Heart won the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, Australia.
Trophy Vert
The 21st edition of the Trophy Vert series began on Sunday at Avignon racecourse.
The series takes place over fourteen racedays, with the competition staged across the whole of the country, for trotting turf specialists. The Group Three final will be held at Craon in early September.
Espoir du Marny outclassed the field in style to be a convincing winner of the opening heat for trainer and driver Kévyn Thonnerieux. The seven year old is likely to continue contesting future heats including at Rambouillet at the beginning of May the most likely target before the final at Craon.
Uza Josselyn
Haras du Bois resident Uza Josselyn gave birth to a filly last weekend by Swedish champion Maharajah. The filly enjoyed plenty of sun and warmth on her first day. It was a notable occasion for the family as Uza Josselyn celebrated an anniversary having given birth to her first filly exactly ten years previous with Belina Josselyn (Love You) who was the 2019 G1 Grand Prix Amerique (2700m) winner. Uza Josselyn has now been at Haras du Bois for over a year after a stunning Trotting racing career of 33 victories including the G1 Grand Prix des Nations to name one of many highlights.
Mille et Mille
At age eleven, super star stayer Mille et Mille, has been retired after a stunning career.
The Haras de la Pérelle progeny, trained by Carlos and Yann Lerner gained eleven victories throughout his career and in excess of one million euros in prize money. Achievements included winning the 2015 G1 Prix du Cadran (4000m) as well as being runner up two years later. He also ran excellently attempting the G1 Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) when fourth in 2016.
His last race was a winning one when successful at Nantes last October in the Listed Grand Prix de Nantes (2400m).
Billie de Montfort
Billie de Montfort gained a third Group One triumph at the age of ten last Sunday landing the Gran Premio Costa Azzura at Turin. At the same time, she broke the kilometre rating record for the event which now stands at 1'11''1.
Seven years ago, Billie de Montfort first gained highest level success in the G1 Critérium des Jeunes three-year-old at Vincennes. He had to wait a long time however before his next taste of Group glory, delivering a win in the G1 Grand Prix des Nations in December 2020.
Billie de Montfort now has 22 wins including three Group One events from 122 races with 2.4 million euros in earnings.
Thoroughbred horse population
France Galop announced last Thursday the number of horses in training which stands at 10,158 (On March 1). This is the + 2.5% compared to twelve months ago and + 2.8% against 2019. The two-year-old population has increased significantly by 13% compared to last year.
Auctav
Auctav gained their first sale last Wednesday when seven lots were sold out of twelve. The top purchase was a foal by Face Time Bourbon and out of the classic mare Union d'Urzy (Coktail Jet) which fetched € 121,000.
Richard Johnson OBE
Richard Johnson OBE suddenly announced on Saturday that he would be retiring immediately from jump race riding. Most of his success came in the UK which included being Champion jump jockey on four occasions. (Runner up on 17 seasons). The 43-year-old had notable success in France including Balthazar King, a cross country staying specialist who won on two occasions in the Listed Grand Cross Country De Craon - Crystal Cup (Cross-Country Chase) (6000m) in 2013 and 2014 at Craon, Western France.
All-Weather Championship Finals Day
Lingfield Park (UK) staged the all-weather championship finals day last Friday with the Roger Varian trained five year old, Khuzaam achieving race glory in the Mile (1600m) final. His route to the Final was intriguing as two runs prior to this success he produced a good second at Deauville in the Listed Prix Luthier (1500m) behind Kenway last December.