News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 28th October 2022.
This week the News In Brief includes, Iresine's victory in the Prix Royal-Oak (G1), G1 winner Marianafoot and the first trotting two-year-old Group races of the season at Vincennes.
Flat
Iresine's victory in the Prix Royal-Oak (G1) at Longchamp on Sunday produced a number of firsts. Apart from Iresine recording his maiden G1 victory it was also a first Group One success for part owner Jean-Paul Gauvin, better known in trotting circles. His brother and Iresine's trainer Jean-Pierre had previously won a G1 when Saônois won the Prix du Jockey-Club. For jockey Marie Vélon, winner of the lady riders Golden Whip in 2020 and 2021 this was also her first G1 success.
After his tenth place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), Onesto will next race in the Japan Cup (G1) at the end of November where he should face a better track. He will remain in training next season with a view toward a seasonal reappearance in May.
Smart racehorse Now We Know, winner of four races including the Grand Handicap de Deauville and Stakes placed in the Prix Quincey (Gr3), will remain in training for the rest of the year and will be targeted toward black races, the Listed Marseille Grand-Prix over 2,000m on 13 November being the immediate target.
Progressive two-year-old Moon Ray will next race in the Prix Miesque (G3) following his impressive victory in a maiden at Chantilly and second at Longchamp in the Listed Prix Saraca.
Following eleven G1 races and ten million euros in prizemoney, the Australian champion Verry Elleegant has been retired. She is to remain in France and has left her base at Francis Graffard's yard in Chantilly and has travelled to the French countryside (stud not identified).
André Fabre has announced Belbek, winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (G1) will not be seen again until next spring. With just five starts he will be targeted toward next seasons' Classic 1600m races.
Place du Carrousel, winner of the Prix d'Opera (G1) will also be turned out for the winter and not be seen again this year.
G1 winner Marianafoot will cover his first mares at Haras de Saint-Vincent in 2023. Under the colours of his breeder Jean-Claude Seroul, he won fifteen races including the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1).
After five seasons at Tally Ho Stud, Galileo Gold will be repatriated to France for his future breeding career. His 2023 stud price is yet to be announced. Galileo Gold, by Paco Boy has plenty of qualities to promote, most notably his 40% winners to starters in 2022. Quality progeny include the very good two-year-old Ebro River, Oscula (winner of the Prix Six Perfections (G3) and third in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) and Hellomydarlin (third in the Prix Robert Papin (G2)).
Jumping
Gai Luron was a surprise winner (at 109/1!) of the Prix Montgomery (G3) at Auteuil last Friday. He is the younger brother of De Bon Cœur and in winning the race, he gave trainer, breeder and co-owner Nicolas de Lageneste, his first graded race success. He scored over Écho de Champdoux and Doctor Squeeze. For rider Gabin Miller this was also his first Graded race winner.
Trotting
The first two-year-old Group races of the season were run last Friday at Vincennes. In the Prix Louis Cauchois (G3) three promising colts were pitted against each other – Knockonwood, Kamehameha and King Opera with the latter proving victorious and takes his career record to four races for four wins. In the filly's division Kalamity d'Héripré lead throughout and her task was made easier when Kana de Beylev was disqualified shortly after the start.
Loris Garcia had multiple successes last weekend at Mons (Belgium) at the Final of the European Trotting series. Éclat de Gloire won (in 1'11.6) both the Final and overall series whist Garcia made it a clean sweep of Trophy's also winning the Drivers and Trainers series.
Last Sunday in Italy Vivid Wise As won a further G1 with Matthieu Abrivard driving. Recording 1'12''7 for the 2,250m he beat rival Vernissage Grif winner of the Naples Lottery earlier this month. Both horses are trained by Alessandro Gocciadoro.
The big winner of UET Championship at Vincennes last Friday week was Sébastien Guarato. The trainer won two of the three G1 races with Idéal du Pommeau and Deus Zack. Amazingly they were his first two Group 1 wins of the year. His previous G1 win was in the 2021 edition of the Prix René Ballière with Face Time Bourbon.
The final of the Prix de la City of Caen (Gr.3) run last Sunday was won by Delfino. Trained and driven by Mathieu Mottier he was never in any doubt in the 4400m marathon event, the longest trotting race conducted in France.
Théo Briand, 16, is a promising apprentice. Winner of five races since he commenced – only this month – and has only contested nineteen races! Last weekend he recorded two winners from two starters at Paray-le-Monial and at Moulins.
It was a big day for the Raffin brothers at Nantes last Sunday week when Eric drove three winners and older brother Olivier notched up his 900th victory driving Fédora du Châtelet for trainer Franck Harel.
Gelati Cut won't be racing at the upcoming Winter Meeting at Vincennes as he is suffering from tendonitis. It's another career break for the triple semi-classical winner who was one of the favourites for the Critérium des 5 Ans but was withdrawn on the eve of the classic. He has had only one race this year at Le Croisé-Laroche as part of the GNT series in May.
