Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 16th March 2021.
It has been another busy week in French racing with all three codes represented. Provincial venues hosted their biggest days of the year including Cagnes-sur-Mer with Group One action, Reims with round one of the Grand National du Trot plus much more…
Trotting
Reims held one of their biggest trotting events of the year with round one of the Grand National du Trot. There will be fourteen more events ahead of the final at Vincennes on 5th December 2021.
The driven G3 Grand National du Trot (2550m) for five- to ten-year-olds was the first race on the programme where at the age of ten Be Cool D'Eb was a surprise winner to land the opening round for driver Anthony Barrier and trainer Eric Beudard. This was a first Group win for the trainer.
Be Cool d'Eb ran close to the leader with a strong pace throughout. He needed luck to find the gap down the centre to arrive just in time to return a kilometre rating of 1'13"1 on his 111th career outing. It showed the adjustments to his equipment such as a harder mouthpiece proved significant.
The next (second) round will be on Wednesday 31 March at Marseille Borely.
Cagnes-sur-Mer had their biggest day of the year on Sunday with a nine-race programme.
The feature was race six, the G1 International Grand Critérium de Vitesse de la Côte-d'Azur (1609m) for four- to eleven-year-olds. With just over one lap of the track, the emphasis was on speed. Frisbee d'Am and Davidson du Pont both galloped early and were out of the race in the first 400m. Tamure Roc and eventual winner, Vivid Wise As As set the pace with Bahia Quesnot also joined in being close up down the back straight.
Only ten lengths covered the group passing halfway with Vivid Wise As leading the field into the home straight from Bahia Quesnot. Etonnant was still towards the rear, but then broke stride inside the final 300m. Délia du Pommereux was the main danger with a late burst but was unable to pass last year's winner Vivid Wise As who remains unbeaten in four starts at this course and distance. A narrow yet classy victory.
The trainer indicated an intent to aim toward multiple targets including International events such as the G1 Prix Costa Azzurra (April 1) in Turin (ITY), the G1 Prix de l'Atlantique (2150m) (April 24) at Enghien, the G1 Freccia d´Europa (May 2) at Naples (ITY) whils also possibly eyeing an invitation to the G1 Elitloppet (1609m) (May 30) in Solvalla (SWE).
The seven-year-old son of Yankee Glide became the sixth double winner of the Group One on the Riviera for trainer and driver Alessandro Gocciadoro.
Flat
Multiple venues hosted intriguing Flat action in the past week including Chantilly on the all-weather last Tuesday. Featured was the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault (1800m) for three-year-olds where a promising son of Rio de la Plata showed plenty of ability. Fort Payne came from last to first in a matter of strides on the outside and powered away to deliver a five-length victory for jockey Thomas Trullier and trainer Nicolas Caullery who gained a Black type victory. For more information on some exciting entries for this three-year-old and more, please click here for the Run of the Week (Flat).
Saint-Cloud returned for their first meeting of 2021 last Thursday with two fascinating Listed contests. First up was the Listed Prix Rose de Mai (2000m) for three-year-old fillies where Anasia managed to fend off a late challenge from UK raider, Mystery Angel with only a neck splitting the pair. The Andre Fabre trained daughter of Intello set the pace on the soft ground and showed a good attitude at the finish. This victory gave Haras de Quesnay resident Intello his fourteenth stakes winner as a sire.
Later in the afternoon, the Listed Prix Altipan (1600m) for four-year-olds and above presented the Group Two winner Gris De Gris with his first stakes victory as a stallion (at Haras de Tierce) when Padron came from last to first in the final 500m by powering through weakening rivals to score. Gérald Mossé steered Padron through the gaps in excellent style for Jérôme Reynier. The four-year-old now has a 50% winning strike rate with four victories from eight starts.
Jump
Compiegne hosted the Listed Prix Spumate Handicap Hurdle (3600m) for four-year-old fillies and five-year-old mares which was the final race on the card. Manon Des Sources raced close to the pace throughout and jumped well. Benjamin Gelhay had to knuckle down onboard the five-year-old daughter of No Risk At All to pass the long-time leader, Solenzera Senam in the final 100m and secure victory for Mathieu Pitart.
Auteuil hosted three Black type races on Saturday across multiple disciplines where Montmartre had a successful meeting as a stallion.
The Listed Prix Univers II Handicap Hurdle (3600m) for four-year-olds went to Karuso de Gruchy with jockey Jérémy Da Silva and trainer Yannick Fouin. The four-year-old by Montmartre, negotiated a wide route throughout on the outside but travelled well and jumped professionally for a first Black type success.
Thirty minutes later was the G3 Prix Duc d'Anjou Steeplechase (3500m) for four-year-olds. Losange Vert was held up in the early stages but jumped well. As the contest progressed, the Dominique Bressou trained son of Montmartre caught the eye at the "big water jump" passing the stands when jumping to the lead. Bertrand Lestrade did well to keep the winner away from a loose horse after the last fence and pulled away impressively to win by twelve lengths.
Berjou bounced back to form when successful in the Listed Prix Hubert d'Aillières Hurdle (4300m) for five years old and above. Nicolas Gauffenic steered the seven-year-old in midfield throughout and took a unique route on the inside down the back straight. Trained by David Windrif, he jumped well and had to battle with Je Deviens Moi in the final 200m but proved too strong. Over the winter months, the son of Holy Roman Emperor won the feature race of the season at Cagnes-sur-Mer – the G3 Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice - Bernard Secly Steeplechase (4600m).
