3 minute read

News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 15th September 2022.

This week's News In Brief includes jockey Simon Planque, winner of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, Above The Curve and a record for a French two-year-old trotter.

Flat

Pyledriver, winner of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr1), will not be available for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) following a slight setback that will prevent him from continuing to work toward that race. He has not been able to gallop and will now look toward racing at the Breeders Cup or Japan Cup.

Aged 18 and now a freelance jockey based at Chantilly, Simon Planque recorded his 86th winner last Thursday at Marseille-Borely riding Shark Samurai, trained by Fabrice Vermulen. The son of trainer Jerry Planque, commenced pony riding before becoming an apprentice to Jean-Claude Rouget at Deauville. Standing tall at 1m80, his Black Type record to date is a Listed winner and G3 third.

Winner of the Prix La Flèche (L), undefeated on three occasions to date, Wootton City ran second, beaten a head to Sivana in the Prix Yacowlef (L), at Deauville. She then disappointed in the Prix de Cabourg (Gr3) finishing seventh after leading. Her next start is expected to be in the Prix Eclipse (Gr3) on September 17 at Chantilly. Other races on the agenda include Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2) or the Prix Zeddaan (L).

Winner of the Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) at Longchamp in May, Above The Curve, had her first race since securing victory at The Curragh (Ireland) on Sunday winning the Blandford Stakes (G2) carrying a weight penalty. Ridden by Ryan Moore, trainer Joseph O'Brien has indicated her next start will be in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) at Longchamp on Arc day.

With success in the Prix Vermeille (G1), the next assignment for victor Sweet Lady will be the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). She will be looking for soft ground on the day. Winner of the Prix Corrida (Gr2) in the spring, she ran a good race in the Grand Prix de St Cloud on a firm track that didn't suit. The form from this race continues to be strong.

The La Pérelle Stud owned Simca Mille, winner of the Prix Niel (G2), currently does not hold an entry for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). Trainer (and part-owner) Stephane Wattel was very pleased with his performance and the form from the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) where he finished a narrow second to Onesto has been further franked where he ran second in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) on Saturday. His track preference is firm.

Bubble Gift won the Prix Niel (G2) narrowly in 2021 begore finishing eight in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). On Sunday he went a step further toward this years' Arc finishing second in the Prix Foy following his third in the Grand Prix de St Cloud (G1) in early July. Connections confirmed after the race the Arc would be his next start.

Australian Champion race-mare, Verry Elleegant, may have disappointed on her French debut at Deauville but on Sunday ran a strong race to finish third in the Prix Foy (G2). Connections were pleased with the much-improved performance and her next start will be in either the Prix Royallieu (G1) on the Saturday of Arc weekend or the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on the Sunday, however, she would need to be supplemented.

Fang was impressive winning the Prix du Pin (G3) on Sunday and a start in the Prix de Foret on Arc-day is a possibility, however the gelding would need to be supplemented. He has been progressive and appears to have a better attitude to racing following being gelded.

Luxembourg delivered the promise he has always shown winning the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown (Ireland) on Saturday defeating two French horses Onesto and Vadeni. After missing Classics following an injury, he showed his class in winning. Following the race, it was confirmed Luxembourg will next run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with jockey Ryan Moore indicating he believes the horse will run the additional 400m.

This year, Kennella won the Prix Goldikova (L), her career best. She then contested the Prix Rothschild (Gr1) without success before finishing third in the Prix Quincey (Gr3). Her next planned start is the Prix Bertrand de Tarragon (Gr3), a race for fillies and mares. Kennella will be stepping up in trip to 1800m and should find her preferred soft surface.

After a second impressive victory at Chantilly last Saturday, the Carlos Laffon-Parias trained Kelina will next race in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) at Longchamp on Arc-day.

Trotting

The programming of the three Critérium championship races next Sunday at Vincennes has evolved during the past three years. Only three years ago the three-year-old was held in December, four-year-old in May and five-year old at the end of August. In 2020, due to covid, the four-and-five-year-old combined at the end of August (as no racing took place from mid-March until mid-May 2020). This year it has been further expanded to include the three-year-old edition and in so doing, presents the opportunity of a generational Championship Day, and to celebrate the breeding of the French trotter.

Alternating between countries of the European Trotting Union (UET) for their triple Group One European Breeding Championship card, this year Vincennes will again play host on Friday, October 14 with the running of the European Championships Three-Year-Old (Gr.1), European Championship for Five-Year-Old (Gr.1) and UET Grand Prix (Gr.1).

Winning the Prix des Geraniums at Vincennes on 6 September in a time rating of 1'13''5, Knockonwood set a record for a French two-year-old.

Despite having a very limited number of horses – he only has four 3-year-olds racing – Village Mystic is highly spoken of in Australia. He is the sire of Amandine who recently won the Princess Final for three-year-old fillies (Gr.1) at Melton and this is a second G1 success having also scored back in May. He has won four races in total. Another of his progeny Mystic Max, and the three-year-old has won three races including a G2 success.

Recording a second win the start of the week at Skellefteå (Sweden), two-year-old Käraste Sisu, by Face Time Bourbon remained undefeated and is making a strong impression showing ability to indicate a promising future. Käraste Sisu is one of seven winners for Face Time Bourbon to date including two in France. The filly is the only winner in Sweden, but he has also recorded two placings.

Following two days of competition in Belgium at Mons and Tongeren, Italian Alessandro Gocciadoro has been crowned as victor of the European Drivers Championship. The second day was more successful for French representative David Bekaert where he landed a double and finished third overall behind Maltese Rodney Gatt.

Jumping

The promising three-year-old filly Dixon Cove finished third in the Prix Sagan (Gr3) at Auteuil in May whilst being trained by Philippe and Camille Peltier. Bought for €190,000 at the summer sale last year, it now appears she will be conducting her future racing under the preparation of UK based trainer Paul Nicholls.