This week's round-up covers plenty of Black Type action from Vichy, a Group Three at Enghien and a Listed juvenile contest from La Teste...
Date
Saturday 24 July 2021
Venue
Enghien
Race
R4 – G3 Prix de Rome (2875m)
Type
Three-year-old walk up
Winner
Izoard Vedaquais
Jockey/Driver
Eric Raffin
Trainer
Philippe Allaire
Breeding
Bird Parker x Dokha Vedaquaise
Second
Imagine Darling
Third
Invincible Cash
Well supported favourite, Izoard Vedaquais, maintained his unbeaten record with a facile success in a Group Three walk up at Enghien as the three-year-old secured an eighth consecutive win. Eric Raffin dictated a controlled pace after gaining the lead with a circuit to run and the pair never had a moment's worry as they strolled to a three-year old course record time of 1'13"7. Trained by Philippe Allaire, who won this race with Izoard Vedaquais's sire, Bird Parker in 2014, represents the breeding of Jean-Pierre Guay. Wary of competing against stablemate Italiano Vero the trainer said he may sidestep that potential showdown and opt for a run in the provinces prior to tackling the G1 Critérium des 3 ans (2700m), which brings together the best of the generation for a final time in December during the Vincennes winter festival.
Date
Sunday 25 July
Venue
La Teste (Good to soft)
Race
R4 – Listed Critérium du Béquet - Ventes Osarus (1200m)
Type
For two-year-olds only
Winner
Accakaba
Jockey
Maxime Guyon
Trainer
Christophe Ferland
Breeding
Acclamation x Yakaba
Second
Maroon Six
Third
Montussan
Accakaba remained unbeaten on Sunday afternoon at La Teste by narrowly recording a third win from as many starts (all coming at La Teste). She showed great speed from the stalls when breaking fastest adopting second position early. The Christophe Ferland filly always caught the eye travelling nicely but was under firm pressure to get past Maroon Six. The daughter of Acclamation eventually secured the front inside the final 50m to produce a neck victory. Owned and bred by the Wertheimer brothers, this triumph was the 59th stakes winner for Rathbarry Stud based stallion, Acclamation.
Date
Sunday 25 July
Venue
La Teste
Race
R5 – Listed Prix La Sorellina - Hyper U Gujan-Mestras (1600m)
Type
For three-year-old fillies
Winner
Lady Day
Jockey/Driver
Aurélien Lemaitre
Trainer
Frédéric Head
Breeding
Motivator x Toride
Second
Trixia de Vega
Third
Izlaz
Lady Day came flying home to gain winning Black type status after placing in the same grade at Chantilly three runs ago attempting the Listed Prix des Lilas (1600m). With the wide draw not helpful, Aurélien Lemaitre allowed her to settle at the back of the field ten lengths behind the leader. She had to wait until the home straight before progress could be made. With 400m left, the jockey switched to the outside securing a clear run and the daughter of Motivator powered clear impressively. This was the stallion's 33rd stakes winner. Lady Day was bred by the Head family at Haras du Quesnay and she is out of Toride, an unraced Fuisse mare (Who is a half-sister to Treve, a six time Group one winner trained by Freddy Head's sister Criquette).
Date
Monday 19 July 2021
Venue
Vichy
Race
R4 – Listed Prix Frédéric de Lagrange (2400m)
Type
Three-year-olds
Winner
Vauban
Jockey/Driver
Jules Mobian
Trainer
Philippe Decouz
Breeding
Galiway x Waldfest
Second
Friendly Face
Third
Smile Makers
The first of the stakes races at the popular Vichy summer meeting went to Vauban, who delivered a late surge to collar Friendly Face in the final strides under a strong ride. This was a first stakes winner for rider Jules Mobian and a career best from the Philippe Decouz-trained gelding, stepping up in grade after a class two conditions victory at Lyon-Parilly. Vauban's sire, Galiway (Galileo), stands at Haras de Colleville for a fee of €12,000.
Date
Tuesday 20 July 2021
Venue
Vichy
Race
R3 – Prix Hubert Baguenault de Puchesse (2400m)
Type
Four-year-old plus
Winner
Opasan
Jockey/Driver
Rad Koplik
Trainer
Jozef Chodur
Breeding
French Navy x Ouja's Sister
Second
Folamour
Third
Mykiss
Opasan secured a seventh career victory with a determined run to fend off the keeping-on Folomour by a diminishing short head. Rad Koplik played a waiting game in midfield before striking the front at the 200-metre marker. The four-year old colt was made to work towards the line but always had the measure of the runner-up. Opasan is no stranger to top-grade success as a G1 winner in Hungary last season. This gave his sire, French Navy (Shamardal), a second individual stakes winner. Purchased for 5,500gns from the 2018 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, Opasan's dam, Ouja's Sister is a half-sister to Listed winner Viva Vettori (Vettori). Jozef Chodur's charge could be kept fresh for the G2 Prix Foy over 2400m at Longchamp in September.
Date
Wednesday 21 July 2021
Venue
Vichy
Race
R4 – Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux (1400m)
Type
Two-year-olds
Winner
Best Sixteen
Jockey/Driver
Maxime Guyon
Trainer
Hans-Albert Blume
Breeding
Penny's Picnic x Surpressa
Second
Diadema
Third
Bunglejungleparty
It was a straightforward success for the consistent Best Sixteen, who registered a fourth victory. He is yet to finish outside the placings in all seven starts. Maxime Guyon sat in a perfect stalking position and put the race to bed quickly once hitting the front just inside the 200m post. He is a half-brother to two winners and descends from the family of Group One winners Katies (Nonalco) and Admire Moon (End Sweep). This was a first win for new owners after being purchased at a fee of more than €50,000 after his victory on June 3. He had previously finished a good third behind dominant two-year-old Atomic Force (Cotai Glory) in the G2 Prix Robert Papin (1200m). This was a fourth individual stakes winner for Penny's Picnic (Kheleyf), who stands at Haras de Hoguenet for €5,000.
Date
Wednesday 21 July 2021
Venue
Vichy
Race
R6 – G3 Grand Prix de Vichy (2000m)
Type
Four-year-olds plus
Winner
Grand Glory
Jockey/Driver
Cristian Demuro
Trainer
Gianluca Bietolini
Breeding
Olympic Glory x Madonna Lily
Second
Diamond Vendome
Third
Algiers
The only mare in the line-up, Grand Glory, came through with a strong late run up against the grandstand rail to get the better of longshot Diamond Vendome (Style Vendome) by a comfortable two lengths. She was in receipt of 2kgs from her male rivals which may not have been the decisive factor with heavy favourite, Iresine (Manduro) a bitter disappointment. He has previously progressed through the ranks with seven consecutive victories but both defeats have come at this venue. This was a first success for Grand Glory since landing the G3 Prix de Flore (2100m) at Saint-Cloud in 2020. The sire of Grand Glory, Olympic Glory (Choisir), has made a steady start to his breeding career. Notable success includes dual Group One winner Watch Me and Group Three juvenile winner Etonian. Olympic Glory shuttled to Australia for three seasons between 2015 and 2018 and is based at Haras de Bouquetot for a fee of €5,000.
Date
Thursday 22 July 2021
Venue
Vichy
Race
R1 – Listed Madame Jean Couturie (2000m)
Type
Three-year-old fillies
Winner
La Parence
Jockey/Driver
Clement Lecoeuvre
Trainer
Henri-François Devin
Breeding
Saonois x La Vive Parence
Second
Keyflower
Third
Dima
La Parence maintained her upward climb since resuming with a first black-type success. Clement Lecoeuvre was always handily placed, choosing to get a lead in the early stages from Saboor (Belardo), before delivering a smart turn of acceleration from 200m out, to stretch clear of his rivals. La Parence is a first foal by an unraced dam who is a sister to G1 Prix de l'Opera (2000m) winner Terre A Terre. It would be fascinating if connections were to target this race to emulate that family success. Saonois (Chichicastenango) stands at Haras de Chataigniers for a fee of €2,500.
Date
Friday 23 July 2021
Venue
Vichy
Race
R5 – Listed Jacques de Bremond (1600m)
Type
Four-year-olds plus
Winner
National Service
Jockey/Driver
Maxime Guyon
Trainer
Frédéric Rossi
Breeding
Elusive City x Forces Sweetheart
Second
Musetta
Third
Star Of Bengal
Maxime Guyon was made to earn his fee with a strong ride on National Service who proved a determined winner at Listed level in a close finish. The jockey decided to keep his mount towards the inside rail in the early stages, away from the main pack, before they all drifted towards the grandstand side down the straight. Although strongly pressed to the line, the Frédéric Rossi-trained four-year old ultimately won a shade comfortably, despite the narrow winning margin. A Group Three winner as a juvenile, National Service couldn't get involved over the 1600m trip in the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil at Chantilly second up. This drop in standard proved a successful venture and he might have further improvement if stepping up in journey, with plenty of winners over hurdles from his bloodline. Elusive City (Elusive Quality) stands at Haras d'Etreham for a fee of €5,000.
