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French Racing and Trotting - Weekly Round-Up

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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 1st December 2021.

Trainer : Jean Claude Rouget. Picture: Racing and Sports

All three codes feature in this week's Weekly Round-Up including an all-weather championship fast track qualifier at Deauville, jumping at Compiegne and Auteuil plus trotting from Le Mans, Salon-de-Provence and Vincennes…

Flat

Date Tuesday 23 November 2021
Venue Deauville (Standard)
Race R7 – Listed Prix Lyphard (1900m)
Type AW, for three-year-olds and above (Fast Track qualifier for the All-Weather championships)
Winner Intégrant
Jockey Maxime Guyon
Trainer Henri-François Devin
Breeding Frankel x Via Manzoni
Second Angelissima
Third Charlesquint
Three-year-old son of FrankelIntégrant overcame the widest draw to go from last to first and gain a guaranteed entry ticket to the UK's All-weather championships finals day at Newcastle (UK) on Friday 15 April 2022. A strong pace was set by Tour To Paris with the winner around ten lengths behind at halfway. Maxime Guyon still only had two runners behind him with 600m to go but being on the outside, it allowed him to quicken nicely and weave through the gaps to power down the outside and get up winning in dominant style. This was a first win at Black Type level for the colt and gave Frankel (Galileo) an 82nd individual stakes winner.

 

Date Wednesday 24 November 2021
Venue Deauville (Standard)
Race R7 – Listed Prix Petite Etoile - Fonds Européen de l'Elevage (1900m)
Type For three-year-old fillies only
Winner Amazonie
Jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeding Toronado x Amarysia
Second Ansilia
Third Amboseli
Three-year-old daughter of ToronadoAmazonie gained Black Type status when winning on the second attempt at Listed level. It was one of the first pattern events staged under the newly installed Deauville floodlights in France and the contest was run at an even tempo. Jean-Bernard Eyquem kept the filly held up on the inside, but only five lengths off the leader. She always caught the eye travelling strongly and showed good acceleration inside the final 300m.

 

Date Friday 26 November 2021
Venue Saint-Cloud (Heavy)
Race R2 – G1 Prix Jacques de Vienne (2500m)
Type For three-year-olds AQPS only
Winner Irish Point
Jockey Mickaël Barzalona
Trainer Etienne d'Andigné
Breeding Joshua Tree x Burkina
Second Il Est Français
Third Itialene
Mickaël Barzalona continued his excellent strike rate taking the highlight event last Friday at Saint-Cloud. The three-year-old son of Joshua Tree showed plenty of promise prior to this first career success posting a good debut third at Fontainebleau in September before going one place better when runner-up at Le Mans six weeks ago.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Toulouse (Heavy)
Race R2 – Listed Prix Max Sicard - 17éme Etape du Défi du Galop (2400m)
Type For three-year-old and above
Winner Jo Pickett
Jockey Valentin Seguy
Trainer Jérôme Reynier
Breeding Makfi x Maredskaya
Second Qatar River
Third Narcos
Under the Toulouse floodlights, Jo Pickett showed a significant amount of progress after a runner-up effort in the Class Three Grand Prix de l'Hippodrome de Cavaillon at Cavaillon three weeks prior. Eased at the line, he was a comfortable winner.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Toulouse (Heavy)
Race R8 – Listed Prix Ourour (2000m)
Type For three-year-olds only (Arab race)
Winner Edalbar
Jockey Mickaël Barzalona
Trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte
Breeding Af Albahar x Edee Rose
Second Ariadna
Third Izadi Star
Edalbar showed a great attitude when keeping up the gallop in the closing stages to fend off rivals and score by one and three quarter lengths. He followed up another Toulouse success seven weeks back over 2100m and is now two from three.


Jumping

Date Thursday 25 November 2021
Venue Compiègne (Heavy)
Race R4 – G3 Prix Général de Saint-Didier Hurdle (3400m)
Type Hurdle for three-year-olds only
Winner Bathyscaphe
Jockey James Reveley
Trainer Donatien Sourdeau de Beauregard
Breeding Bathyrhon x Nasmona
Second Diamond Carl
Third Sideralis
Bathyscaphe made all to be an impressive winner at Compiegne stretching out the field by over 20 lengths throughout. Running alone for most of the race he jumped well and continued to show his progression following up a previous course and distance success.

 

Date Thursday 25 November 2021
Venue Compiègne (Heavy)
Race R5 – Listed Prix Roger de Minvielle Chase (3450m)
Type Chase for three-year-olds only
Winner Na Has
Jockey Bertrand Lestrade
Trainer François Nicolle
Breeding Saint des Saints x Chegei Has
Second Showly
Third Singapore Trip
Na Has used his Auteuil experience to good effect at Compiegne when taking up the running before halfway to be left well clear. This three-year-old son of Saint des Saints gradually refined his technique over the obstacles which resulted in at one stage being 30 lengths ahead of the peloton of rivals who were simply outclassed. The runner-up was beaten by thirteen lengths.

 

Date Thursday 25 November 2021
Venue Compiègne (Heavy)
Race R7 – G3 Prix Léopold d'Orsetti - Grande Course de Haies de Compiègne Hurdle (3800m)
Type Hurdle for four-year-olds and above
Winner Porto Pollo
Jockey Bertrand Lestrade
Trainer François Nicolle
Breeding Manduro x Silky Steps
Second Becquarainbow
Third Ferblue
Bertrand Lestrade and François Nicolle recorded a double during the afternoon at Compiegne last week. Six year old, Porto Pollo confirmed his winning form from the same course and distance four weeks prior travelling strongly and powering away in determined fashion.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Auteuil (Heavy)
Race R2 – G3 Prix André Michel Hurdle (3600m)
Type Hurdle for four-year-old fillies and mares above
Winner Raffles Sainte
Jockey Gaëtan Masure
Trainer François Nicolle
Breeding Saint des Saints x Loxlade
Second Kolina Has
Third Madame Moonie
Raffles Sainte recorded her first Auteuil victory, building on a good fourth in the Listed Prix de Besançon Hurdle (3800m) at Compiegne a month previous. The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned five year old mare is lightly raced and open to further improvement. She looked one to note after this four length triumph.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Auteuil (Heavy)
Race R3 – G2 Prix Olry Roederer Hurdle (4300m)
Type Hurdle for five-year-olds and above
Winner Gex
Jockey James Reveley
Trainer Emmanuel Clayeux
Breeding Khalkevi x Mexcala
Second Pollexfen
Third Garasil
Gex enhanced his overall career profile to now maintain a 50% winning strike of five wins from ten starts. James Reveley allowed the five-year-old to settle just behind the leader, Polirico where a sensible pace was set considering the ground conditions. The most notable moment was at the first hurdle when the strongly supported, Galop Marin unseated the rider enabling the eventual winner to take the rail and be guided home passing Pollexfen.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Auteuil (Heavy)
Race R4 – Listed Prix Fifrelet Handicap Hurdle (3600m)
Type Handicap Hurdle for three-year-olds only
Winner Odiago
Jockey Pierre Dubourg
Trainer Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé
Breeding Night Wish x Madonna Du Berlais
Second Hoppefull Has
Third Hip Hop Senam
Odiago continued his progression with a second career success bouncing back after mixed form on the two previous outings. The son of Night Wish jumped well and showed a game attitude at the finish to repel Hoppefull Has on the run in.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Auteuil (Heavy)
Race R5 – G2 Prix Georges Courtois Chase (4400m)
Type Chase for five-year-olds and above
Winner Srelighonn
Jockey Théo Chevillard
Trainer François Nicolle
Breeding Martaline x Eliga
Second Glorice
Third Pacha Senam
Eight-year-old son of Martaline might still have jumping issues however he managed to overcome his fall in the G1 Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (5500m) from three weeks ago and gain victory. There was a strong pace on this occasion and stamina was required tackling the heavy going. Jumping the big open ditch in better fashion he went clear in the final 1000m to show his dominance as he extended his lead to be an eighteen length winner.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Auteuil (Heavy)
Race R7 – G3 Prix Morgex Chase (3500m)
Type Chase for four-year-olds
Winner La Danza
Jockey Romain Julliot
Trainer Mlle Daniela Mele
Breeding Masked Marvel x La Sorelle
Second Sel Jem
Third Gold Tweet
Four-year-old daughter of Masked Marvel, La Danza travelled best on the testing ground and opened clear with two to jump. Staking winning claims on the race she had enough energy to keep Sel Jem at bay in the final 100m. Lightly raced at the Paris venue she could be open to further progress.


Trotting

Date Wednesday 24 November 2021
Venue Le Mans
Race R4 – G3 Grand National du Trot (2950m)
Type Driven for five- to ten-year-olds
Winner Bad Julry
Driver Anthony Barrier
Trainer Stéphane Provoost
Breeding Prince Gédé x Milady de Bas
Second Goût Baroque
Third Clarck Sotho
Ten-year-old, Bad Julry sprung a surprise beating the favourite, Goût Baroque when landing the final round of the series. It was an open event with many chances as approximately twelve runners were covered by only three lengths inside the final 200m (most still in-contention). With some luck the winner secured a clear inside run. The final of the series is this Sunday at Paris-Vincennes.

 

Date Saturday 27 November 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race R3 – G2 Prix Annick Dreux - Critérium des Pouliches – Femelles (2700m)
Type Driven walk up for three-year-old fillies only
Winner Inoubliable
Driver Jean-Philippe Dubois
Trainer Philippe Moulin
Breeding Prodigious x Dream Life
Second Icône de Castelle
Third I Love Me
This was the fillies trial race for the upcoming Critèrium des Trois ans in three weeks. Inoubliable bounced back to best form recording a fourth Group Two level success. The filly took up the running with 1000m to go and seemed to have control over the field, but it still looked an open contest as the runners made the home turn. Jean-Philippe Dubois timed the fractions to perfection and scored narrowly for a sixth career triumph.

 

Date Saturday 27 November 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race R5 – G2 Prix Jacques de Vauloge (2700m)
Type Driven walk up for three-year-old colts and geldings
Winner Italiano Vero
Driver David Thomain
Trainer Philippe Allaire
Breeding Ready Cash x Baraka d'Henlou
Second Idéal Ligneries
Third Infant Perrine
Italiano Vero won the colts division of the Critèrium des Trois ans trial race and kept up his amazing and consistent record to gain his tenth win from eighteen career outings alongside a further four placings. The talented son of Ready Cash ran close to the speed and swapped the pace-setting duties with Inferno Piper in the first half. There was 800m to go when he looked the one to beat as the tempo increased. His quality was easy to see as the colt extended away. Admittedly down the home straight he did fade however David Thomain kept him working. He will prove hard to beat in the G1 Classic on 19 December.

 

Date Saturday 27 November 2021
Venue Vincennes
Race R6 – G3 Prix de Chenonceaux (2700m)
Type Driven walk up for four- and five-year-olds only
Winner Ampia Mede Sm
Driver Franck Nivard
Trainer Fabrice Souloy
Breeding Ganymède x Polimpia Slide Sm
Second Giant Chief
Third Hussard du Landret
Ampia Mede Sm maintained her excellent recent form in France to record a seventh consecutive victory and a fifth successive triumph in Group company. The five-year-old mare has been in brilliant form for the whole of the year with only one blimp when DQ at Enghien in March. All other starts have resulted in a placing or a win. An impressive model of consistency.

 

Date Sunday 28 November 2021
Venue Salon-de-Provence
Race R8 – G3 Grand Prix de Salon-de-Provence (3000m)
Type Driven walk up for six- to ten-year-olds
Winner Duel du Gers
Driver Matthieu Abrivard
Trainer Matthieu Abrivard
Breeding Quaker Jet x La Chasse Verte
Second Cash du Rib
Third Bilooka du Boscail
Duel du Gers recorded a 20th career success from 61 outings on Sunday when taking one of the feature races of the year at Salon-de-Provence. He finished a good fourth in last years final of the Grand National du Trot at Vincennes and the eight-year-old is often running to a solid level of consistency. It made the long journey for trainer/driver Matthieu Abrivard worthwhile.