News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 11th May 2022.
This week the News In Brief includes Sibila Spain, Theo Bachelot, French stallion Love You and Diable de Vauvert.
Flat
By winning the G2 Prix Muguet (1600m) at Saint Cloud on Sunday, Sibila Spain gave trainer Christopher Head his first Group victory. The filly had previously won the Listed Prix de Liancourt, finished fourth in both the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) and G1 Prix Saint-Alary (2000m) last season, and now has a Group race against her name. She continues to improve with every start.
Ultra Bright gave jockey Theo Bachelot, his 1,000th career winner on Monday at Angers. Following her fourth in the G1 1,000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket (UK) the André Fabre filly will next run in the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) at Chantilly on 19 June. Staying on at the end of the 1600m, the extra distance of the 'Diane' should suit the filly, winner of last years' G1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m).
All the way winner of the G1 1,000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket, Cachet, is poised to compete in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) at Longchamp on Sunday and attempt to complete the cross-channel Classic Double. Four fillies have been able to achieve the unique double Imprudence (1947) Miesque (1947), Ravinella (1988) and Special Duty (2010) who won after being second past the post in both races but being elevated after Steward Inquiries.
English filly Heart of the Moment and colt Claymore, both trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam remain on target to run in this Sunday's Poules d'Essai races. Heart of the Moment resumed her Classic season finishing sixth in the G3 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury (UK) and Claymore was second behind Native Trail in the G3 Craven Stakes. Another colt from England, Bayside Boy trained by Roger Varian will be first up following his third in last years' G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster (UK).
Winner of the Listed Prix Herod last season as a two-year-old, My Fancy finished second on his seasonal reappearance in the Listed Prix Omnium II before managing third in the G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. Next start was to be in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m), however he suffered a setback that will prevent him from contesting in this Sunday's race. It is anticipated he will be turned out with a return to the track aimed for later in the season.
Winner of the Prix Bergamots (Class 2) at Nancy, Selwan, has been set a target of rising in grade to contest either a Class 1, or either the G3 Prix du Lys or G2 Prix Hocquart. Regional three-year-old Listed races such as Toulouse or Bordeaux are also slated as possibilities with distances of 2000-2400m expected to suit the gelding.
Caprice des Dieux disappointed on his return to the track managing only tenth in the Listed Prix Jacques Laffitte fading after leading. He will next run in a further Listed race, most likely the Prix de Montretout at Longchamp at the end of the month.
The consistent Control Tower, winner of the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit, will make her comeback on Thursday at Longchamp in the Listed Prix Gold River Prize (2800m) with a long-term seasonal target of the G1 Prix de Royallieu.
G1 Prix Ganay (2100m) winner State of Rest made it three successive G1 successes having previously won the Cox Plate (Australia) and the Saratoga Derby (United States). He will stand at both Rathbarry Stud (Ireland) and Newgate Farm (Australia) at the end of his racing career.
Peshmerga won on debut at Chantilly in February and has raced twice since for a Listed fifth and Class 2 second. Her immediate racing plans will be to tackle the Listed Prix Finland at Longchamp on May 19 and depending on how she runs will target either the G2 Italian Oaks or G1 Prix de Diane (2100m).
Esope hasn't been seen since winning the G3 Prix de Lutèce (3000m) at Longchamp in September. He is scheduled to return to the track in the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp.
After twenty race rides, seventeen-year-old apprentice Louis Nomis won his first race at Chantilly on Friday aboard Osmoy who is trained by Yann Barberot and to whom he is apprentice.
The winner of the 2021 G3 Prix Noailles, Cheshire Academy, has been retired. Fifth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) and eighth in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) he was then spelled. Last week he resumed in the Prix des Pavillons de Bercy (Class 2) finishing fifth. Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has indicated the horse was not well following the race and was immediately retired.
Trotting
Ce Bello Romain will not be contesting this weekends' Copenhagen Cup (G1) following a slight setback. Whilst not serious, connections have chosen not to take the risk, especially with the horse having to face a long journey. He will now be targeted to defend his title in the Kymi Grand Prix (Gr.1) in Finland on June 18.
In Australia last Saturday, French stallion Love You sired two G1 winners at Menangle Park, the principal trotting track in Sydney. New Zealand bred four-year-old Queen Elida won the Garrards La Coocaracha followed by three-year-old filly Tough Love, victorious in the NSW Oaks, defeating Amandine who is the daughter of French stallion Mystic Village.
Isla Jet gave Bold Eagle his 250th winner and more than 5 million euros in aggregate winnings. This was his fourth siring success of the week following wins by Joshua Tree, Galet de Rivière and In Between Us. Isla Jet is Bold Eagle's highest earning four-year-old filly, second only to Instinct d'Am with prizemoney of €180,810.
Following her second in the Prix Hémine, Junon du Léard is currently enjoying a brief spell and will go straight into the G1 Prix d'Essai on June 26, deciding not to have a further lead-up race, the most notable being the G2 Prix Pierre Gamare at Caen on 14 May.
G1 Prix de Paris winner Diable de Vauvert will next race in the Harper Hanovers (Gr.1) on the Saturday of the Elitloppet (Gr.1) [May 28] at Solvalla in Sweden. He will be driven by Gabriele Gelormini replacing Tony Le Beller who has elected to stay in France and meet local commitments that weekend. The race is run over 3150m.
