News In Brief of French Racing.
The winner of the G1 Criterium International (1600m) run at St-Cloud in October, Van Gogh, has been crowned leading two-year old of the 2020 European season. This is a race that has traditionally been a good guide to future Group performing horses. Van Gogh won on heavy going by four lengths and was impressive. One of the best-bred horses in training, he has the bloodlines to be both a Guineas and Derby colt next season.
A new record for the 2275m course at Nantes of 1'16''4 was recorded by I Can Fly Delo when winning on Sunday. By Ready Cash, the Charley Mottier trained filly was having her fourth race start delivering an improved performance following two disqualifications and a sixth.
The mounted victory of Izard des Agets at Angers gave first-year stallion Boeing to Bocage his first win as a stallion. There are seven qualified horses from this crop. On the track Boeing finished second in the G1 Prix de Normandie in 2016.
Winner of the 2011 G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) [at Randwick, Australia] and now as a successful stallion Reliable Man continues to have Stakes success in Australasia. Hynos scored in the G2 Couplands Bakeries Mile (1600m) in New Zealand last week and this was followed by an elite win for his daughter Inspirational Girl on Saturday when she won the G1 Railway Stakes (1500m) at Ascot in Perth, West Australia. The filly had previously won to G3. Following three seasons standing in France, Reliable Man will be based in 2021 at Gestüt Röttgen in Germany.
Former French galloper Neufbosc, winner of the G3 Prix du Lys (2400m) and third in the G2 Prix Niel (2400m) in 2018, was sold to Australian interests in 2019. Following disappointing performances in feature Melbourne races he was relocated to Perth under the guidance of trainer Neville Parnham. He won his first Australian race last Saturday in a Listed contest at Ascot, Perth over 1400m. His next race is scheduled to be in the G1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at the same venue on 5 December followed by the G2 Perth Cup (2400m) on 2 January.
Jockey Marie Velon set a French lady's riders' winning record this week when she landed her seventy-third victory of the season at Lyon-La Soie last Thursday. The previous record was held by Mickaëlle Michel set in 2018. Marie Velon commenced riding in 2017 and in her maiden season rode four winners. During 2018 forty-two victories were secured and in 2019 forty.
Next Friday the Solvalla Grand Prix will be conducted in Stockholm. Two current Nordic superstar four-year-olds have been entered – Hail Mary (Derby and Breeders Crown winner) and Ecurie D (fourteen wins from sixteen starts). Whilst currently not a Group One contest, it does attract leading horses and in the case with these two runners, they could then be prepared for the Group One Critérium Continental at Vincennes on Sunday 27 December.
Leading jumping stallion Tiger Groom has relocated from Haras de la Baie (after three years) to Haras de l'Abbaye in New Aquitaine. His notable winners include Teejay Flying, Ar Mad, Azura du Kalon, Arkalon and Cheb de Kerviniou. This season, his best performer has been Groom Boy who finished second in the Listed Antoine de Palaminy (3900m) at Pau in February. He will stand alongside Anglo-Arab stallions Paban de France, Carghese des Landes and Croucracq. Tiger Grooms' fee will be €2,000 for purebreds and €1,500 for Anglo-Arabs and AQPS.
One of France's most promising Apprentice riders is Augustin Madamet. Last Thursday at Fontainebleau he landed his first Listed win aboard Honey Cake when she won the Prix Cérès (1400m). The filly has now had eight starts recording four wins and is trained by Henri-Alex Pantall.
