News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 17th August 2022.
This week's edition of the News In Brief includes winner of the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), Onesto, Mangoustine and Frankie Dettori in the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1).
Flat
Winner of the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) last month, Onesto will next be targeted for the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr1) over 2000m at Leopardstown on September 10. Having won the Prix Greffulhe he drew poorly in the Prix du Jockey Club and did well to finish fifth. Connections believe he is a future stallion, and his preferred distance will be 2000m. A decision on participating in the 'Arc' will be made following the race in Ireland.
Arqana completed their August Yearling Sale on Tuesday with the highest lot sold being to Japanese interests when a Siyouni brother to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Sottsass (from Starlet's Sister) passed hands for €2.1 million. Other notable sales included Dubawi x Golden Valentine €2m, Shamardal x Lady Frankel €1.6m, Siyouni x Aviatress €1.4m and Kingman x Dardiza €800,000.
After finishing sixth in the Prix du Cercle (L) at Deauville on 7 August, Suesa has been retired from racing. She completes her career with twelve starts for five wins, with the highlight being a G2 victory in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood (UK) and two French G3 contests in the Prix Sigy and Prix Texanita (carrying a weight penalty).
OTI Racing has acquired half of Longvillers a recent second in the Prix Messidor (Gr3) under the training of Yann Barberot. Gérard Augustin-Normand will retain half of the colt and he will next start in the Prix Quincey on August 28 before leaving to join the Chris Waller stable in Sydney, Australia.
Smart filly Zelda departed France last weekend to join the stables of Christopher Clement and race in the United States. Her record in France reads seven starts for three wins up to a Listed race at Chantilly over 1400m and a sixth placing in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) at Longchamp in May, beaten less than 2L behind Mangoustine who is raced by the same connections.
Following a downfield finish in the Prix Jean Prat (G1) in July, Mangoustine was given a brief spell and will return for the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on 4 September.
Germany's leading three-year-old Sammarco, winner of the Union Rennen (Gr2), Deutsches Derby (G1) and Grosser DallmayrPreis (G1) could line up for a start in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). This will be subject to his performance in the Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr1) where if he finishes in the first three, he could be supplemented for the Arc. An alternative path would be to race him in the Preis von Europa (Gr1) which will run on Sunday, September 25, a week before the Arc, in Cologne where the colt is trained.
Frankie Dettori has been engaged to ride the Australian mare Verry Elleegant in the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1) at Deauville next Sunday on her debut start in France. He will be aboard a horse that has won eleven Group One races from 1400m to 3200m including a Melbourne Cup.
Trotting
This week Face Time Bourbon recorded his first two-year-old winner in Sweden when Käraste Sisu won in Bode. He has thirty-five registered horses in Sweden.
Jumping
François Nicolle recorded his 100th winner of the year as a jumping trainer last Friday at Clairefontaine and then on Monday saw his colours greet the judge but this time as an owner of a trotter! Juste Kyrn was the winner and was driven by Alexandre Abrivard and trained by his father, Laurent.
