News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 16th February 2022.
It has been a busy week in French racing and trotting with developments across all Flat, Jumping and Trotting.
Trotting
This year will see exactly 100 Group One trotting races conducted across Europe, four more than last season. To be recognised by the Union of European Trotting as a Group One, a race must be valued with a minimum prizemoney of €100,000 and €50,000 to be a Group 2.
The Top 10 Group Ones scheduled for this year (by prizemoney) are
Elitloppet : €1,102,000
Prix d'Amérique Legend Race : €1,000,000
Italien Derby : €800,800
Prix de Cornulier : €700,000
Loterie : €660,000
Prix de France Speed Race : €400,000
Prix de Paris Marathon Race : €400,000
Svenkst Travderby (Swedish Derby – 4-year-olds) : €390,000
Svenkst Trav-kriterium (Swedish Critérium – 3-year-old) : €390,000
Åbergs Memorial : €308,000
Breakdown by Country of the 100 Group One events in Europe in 2022
Belgium: 1 (same as 2021)
Denmark: 4 (+2 compared with 2021)
Germany: 1 (same as 2021)
Finland: 7 (same as 2021)
France: 29 (+6 over 2021 and this includes the three rotating UET Group One races)
Italy: 25 (-1 in 2021)
Norway: 6 (same as 2021)
Sweden: 27 (-3 in 2021 which included the three rotating UET Group One races)
On August 24, 2019 Vivid Wise As recorded a time as the fastest trotter in France - 1'08''6 in the G2 Grand Prix du Department of Alpes-Maritimes at Cagnes-sur-Mer. Last Sunday at Vincennes, Vivid Wise As added another record when winning the G1 Prix de France Speed Race (2100m) by lowering the race record to 1'09''7. The previous time of 1'09"8 was jointly held by Kool du Caux (2009) and Délia du Pommereux (2021).
Vivid Wise As is an underrated European horse. In winning the G1 Prix de France Speed Race (2100m) last Sunday at Vincennes he recorded his eleventh Group One and has an outstanding Group performance record. His first of seven G1 Italian wins was as a 2-year-old in the Gran Premio Allevatori whilst his French tally is four G1's.
The third richest member of the 'seven-year-olds' (the "F") Feeling Cash is bowing out of racing. He finished ninth in the G1 Prix de Cornulier (2700m) last month and is the winner of the G1 Prix des Elites (2200m) in 2020 but has failed to shine this winter. He commenced racing as a two-year-old on the grass at Montier-en-Der finishing second in the same race that was won by Face Time Bourbon! Feeling Cash managed a career of ten wins and twenty-two placings in 57 starts. Apart from the G1 Prix des Elites he also scored in six Group 2 (one harness, five under saddle) and retires with earnings of €1,120,080 only beaten in his generation by Face Time Bourbon and Flamme du Goutier (also both by Ready Cash). Commencing stud duties in 2019, his first offspring will be attempting qualification this year.
Earl Simon (Prodigious) has recovered from a tendon injury suffered in the May 2020 Elitloppet. He incurred setbacks during recouperation however has now recovered. During this time, the now eight-year-old performed as a stallion at Haras de la Sauvagère and has now returned to Grosbois and will be requalified on February 18 with a return to the track planned for at Caen on March 10 in the Prix de Parigny.
Flat
The European Pattern Committee has announced adjustments to the European program for Group and Listed races for 2022 with few changes. France will retain its 116 Group races and 126 Listed events.
Dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) winner Enable is a mum! Juddmonte Farms Champion gave birth on Friday 11 February at 4:54 pm (French time), a colt by Kingman. Enable is next scheduled to visit Dubawi.
Ésotérique, winner of three G1 1600m races – Prix Jacques Le Marlois, Prix Rothschild and Sun Chariot Stakes (UK), gave birth to a colt by Kingman on February 11 at Haras de Meautry. It is her second foal for which she is already the mother of three-year-old Ingres (Galileo) who is in training with André Fabre.
Not everything went as planned for G1 winner Marianafoot when returning to the track at Cagnes-sur-Mer last week. A stablemate was entered as pacemaker but the more fancied of the two failed to pick-up sufficiently. Both will now go to Chantilly for the Class 1 Prix Anabaa. Longer-term, the Marianafoot programme will be similar to last year – the Listed Prix Servanne, followed by the Prix du Palais-Royal, then the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot with an ultimate target being the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m), a race he won last year.
Fort Payne disappointed on comeback attempting a Class 2 at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January, finishing sixth. Future options for the Philippe Demercastel trained runner include the Listed Prix Saônois (1600m) on February 19 at Cagnes-sur-Mer or return to Chantilly, where two Class 1 events on 1 March may suit (these races are both deemed as trial races for horses being set for Dubai World Cup Night).
Following his good fifth in the Listed Zabeel Stakes at Meydan (UAE) the Henri-François Devin Integrant will next start in the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes on February 24.
Although removed from participation in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m), it has been confirmed Grand Glory will remain in training for the 2022 season. She will be aimed at G1 Fillies & Mares races.
Saudi Cup (1800m)
The rematch between Sealiway and Mishriff remains on target in the Saudi Cup. Defending champion, Mishriff and Sealiway who won the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot (UK) are set to face each other again whilst the USA is represented by Mandaloun and the Japanese runner Marche Lorraine will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon.
Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m)
Skazino is trained by Richard Chotard and Glycon races for Jean-Claude Rouget. Both will represent France in this contest with Skazino carrying 60.5kg having concluded 2021 finishing second in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak (3100m) at Longchamp in October. He has had one run this season when beaten at Cagnes-sur-Mer in an unsuitable race.
G3 Neom Turf Cup (2100m)
Trainer Édouard Monfort is sending Eudaimonia whilst Andre Fabre has Magny Cours entered in the race. Ebayra may also travel for the event. Eudaimonia was last seen in the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio in Rome following her third in the G1 Prix Opera (2000m). She was then bought back at the Arqana breeding sale in December. Although better known as preferring soft ground, she has performed on firmer surfaces in the past. She will be ridden by Gerald Mosse on this occasion.
Saudi Derby (1800m)
Trainer Jérôme Reynier has nominated Jacinda. Form includes a second place in the G2 Premio Dormello (1,600m) at Capannelle in Italy. First up Jacinda raced at Cagnes-sur-Mer last Sunday. Maxime Guyon is booked to ride.
Obaiya Arabian Classic (PA)
Deryan, winner of the G1 Kahayla Classic, scored on his return at Pau and will be one of the French runners. Trainer Didier Guillemin believes he is better now than when finishing fifth in the race last year. He will also then move on to Dubai and the Arabian race on the World Cup programme, a race he has previously won. Ioritz Mendizabal will be his rider. Thomas Fourcy has Hadi de Carrère, a twice G1 PA winner at three. He finished fifth at Pau in his comeback event. Another French nominated runner, Hajres, will enter stud duties and not take his place.
Listed Al Mneefah Cup (PA)
Trainer Elisabeth Bernard has returned Jarif to make up for failure when only finishing seventh last year at the track. He is a previous winner of the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic (PA) and is to be ridden by Cristian Demuro. Trainer Charles Gourdain enters Rysk Tout who has already shown his liking for sand, while Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte will be represented by Teema, winner of the G1 Arabian Mare Trophy (4-year-old fillies) (PA).
Jump
Winner by twelve lengths of the Prix des Citronniers at Cagnes-sur-Mer in December, Grivetana went to Auction and was purchased for €180,000 by Tom Malone. The horse has since travelled to England where she will be trained by Paul Nicholls. She is engaged in a Novices' Hurdle over 3,000m this coming Saturday at Wincanton with the G1 Triumph Hurdle (3400m) at the Cheltenham Festival a possibility.
Two Daniela Mele trained four-year-olds in Intranet and Irancy have been sold and exported to Ireland to race under the colours of leading owner J.P. McManus. Intranet won his only start on the flat at Durtal in November whilst Irancy, also scored at Durtal on the flat at his second race start. Both come from strong families.
The French bred Eldorado Allen won his third G2 finding success in the UK Denman Chase against four opponents. When four jumps from home, Eldorado Allen resolutely took the lead and ran out a two and a quarter length victor. Third was another "FR", Clan des Obeaux who had previously won the race in 2019. Going forward the G1 Festival Trophy Chase (4200m) at the Cheltenham Festival on day three rather than being supplemented for the G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup (5200m).
Eldorado Allen was sold as a four-year-old to English connections following a third at Auteuil. He is by Khalkevi (based at Haras des Anses) from Hesmeralda, winner of nine cross-country races when trained by Emmanuel Clayeux, including the Grand Cross of Pompadour. Eldorado Allen is the last foal from the mare, who also produced Une Époque (Dom Alco), winner of six races on the flat, hurdles and steeplechase, including the G3 Prix Sytaj at Auteuil, and Réaction was successful in nine Group evenwhilst Dispatch Allen is the winner of his first eleven official races on the flat, hurdles and fences, Envoi Allen won six G1 races - the Champion Bumper, the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle, the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Drinmore Novice Chase and Paddy's Rewards. The grand-dam Violeta was also a good producer.
Top Class Group One winner Paul's Saga has been retired and will return to the place of her birth - Seine-Maritime to begin her career as a broodmare. Paul's Saga commenced her career with trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin where she won three times on the flat, taking two Class 2 races. She moved to David Cottin where she progressed to become one of the best hurdlers in France winning five Group races including the G1 Grand Course de Haies d'Auteuil (5100m), G2 Prix Léon Orly-Roederer (4300m) and G3 Prix Carmarthen (3900m).
