News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 19th May 2021.
This week's news-in-brief covers G1 success for Flavien Prat, Eric Raffin's appeal in Sweden and the return of In Swoop...
Flavien Prat
French born rider Flavien Prat clinched success at the highest level when riding Rombauer to victory in the G1 Preakness Stakes (1900m) last Saturday. The triumph takes Prat to the top of the rankings according to earnings, with fellow French jockey Florent Géroux.
Eric Raffin
Eric Raffin had his appeal rejected by the Swedish Commissioners Appeal Board following his win on Délia du Pommereux at Aby in Sweden in the G1 Paralympiatravet Final (2140m) where he raised his whip above shoulder level when celebrating the victory. Eric Raffin will serve a 3-day ban and pay a fine of €1,500.
Hurricane Lane
Hurricane Lane gave Frankel his 67th individual stakes winner as a sire when winning the G2 Dante Stakes (2063m) at York last week. The Normandie Stud-bred colt's dam, Gale Force, won the Listed Prix Denisy (3100m) at Saint-Cloud and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Seal Of Approval.
Noble Music
Lanwades Stud-based sire Sea The Moon was provided with his 14th stakes winner thanks to Noble Music's success in the Listed Prix Gold River (2800m) under Gerald Mosse at Longchamp last Thursday.
In Swoop
Last season's German Derby winner In Swoop returned to winning ways with success in the G3 Prix d'Hedouville (2400m) at Longchamp last Thursday. The four-year-old colt finished second in both the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m).
Willie Mullins swerves Auteuil
Willie Mullins abandoned plans to have runners at Auteuil this weekend due to the complications of travelling horses during the current pandemic. The Irish champion trainer says he hopes to return to France as soon as the measures around Covid-19 ease.
Maiden victories for Time Test and Acclaim
Son of Dubawi, Time Test, recorded his first success at stud when two-year-old The King's Horses scored on debut at San Siro (Italy). The 2017 G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret winner Acclaim sired his first winner when Catchet won by five-and-a-half-lengths at Newmarket last Saturday.
Antoine Dabouis
Antoine Dabouis recorded his first success as a trainer at Orleans on Sunday courtesy of Echo de Star. The son of Michel Dabouis, grandfather of Roland Dabouis is 22 years old and currently has five horses in training.
Habanero de Viette
Habanero de Viette broke the 4-year-old track record at Vichy over the 2975m journey in a time of 1'13''7. With more than €72,000 in earnings, this representative of the Vieux Chêne stable is in brilliant form currently.
Vincent Seguin
The collaboration between Vincent Seguin and the Foiret team started with their first runner on July 5th, 2018. Since that date, the trainer has produced 79 winners as a personal trainer for the Foiret team. Vincent Seguin trains a team of 40 horses in Calvados. 2019 proved the most profitable so far with 39 winners and more than € 550,000 in prize money.
Trophy Vert
Sunday saw the running of the fourth round of the Trophy Vert series with this heat being conducted at Vitré. No previous heat winners were engaged, and newcomer to the series El Tiger Segah claiming victory. Coming into the race with plenty of experience on grass this was his ninth win on the surface. To date this was his biggest success and is already assured a place in the final to be held at Craon in September.
