News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 1st September 2021.
All three codes (Flat, Jumping and Trotting) have seen multiple news stories in the last week including the conclusion of the Deauville and Clairefontaine summer carnival, the Crystal Cup cross-country challenge, Cagnes-sur-Mer trotting plus much more…
Crystal Cup
Waregem racecourse in Belgium became the fifth venue to stage a heat of the Crystal Cup European cross-country challenge for 2021 on Tuesday. Trainer Patrice Quinton had four in the line-up and David Cottin travelled with two horses for competition. However, it was the former trainer who found success in the biggest race of the year at Waregem with Felix de Giles riding Gino des Dunes to glory in the Ing Grote Steeple-Chase Van Vlaanderen (4600m). This boosted the jockey's lead in the competition.
The next round of the series will return to France in September at Craon for the Grand Cross de Craon.
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Cagnes-sur-Mer concluded their summer meeting on Saturday evening with the highlight being the G2 Grand Prix des Alpes-Maritimes (1609m). Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide) recorded the big Cagnes-sur-Mer double by achieving success in both the G1 Grand Critérium de Vitesse de la Côte d'Azur (1609m) back in March and victory again on the south coast last Saturday.
Ecureuil Jenilou (Village Mystic) won the most successful horse of the summer award with three wins and a runner up effort in four attempts throughout the meeting. There was a brother domination for the driver and trainer classifications. Christophe Martens headed the driver standings with 28 triumphs and Vincent Martens won the trainers title with 27 wins.
Entries for Incarville
The G1 Prix Saint-Alary (2000m) winner Incarville has been entered into multiple fascinating Autumn highlights in the coming months including the G1 Prix Vermeille (2400m), the G1 Prix Royallieu (2800m), the G1 Prix de l'Opéra (2000m) and the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m). The G1 Prix Vermeille (2400m) is likely to be her next outing.
European French Trotter Tour
The G2 Grand Prix Steven Bijkerk (2600m) staged at Wolvega, The Netherlands on Sunday was the first round of the tour. This went to the Jean-Michel Bazire trained, Feydeau Seven (Rédéo Josselyn). The next heat of the competition will be run at Avenches, Switzerland on 14 September.
Pogo
Pogo who placed third in the G2 Celebration Mile (1600m) at Goodwood (UK) last Saturday has entered the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m) this Sunday but preference will likely be for the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein (1600m) in October at Longchamp.
Divonne-les-Bains and Alexandre Abrivard
Alexandre Abrivard made a first visit to Divonne-les-Bains racecourse for their final two meetings of the summer carnival, and it proved successful. Last Thursday he won three races and then twenty-four hours later did the same, overtaking Yannick-Alain Briand (five victories), to be leading driver of the meeting.
Gold Trip
Gold Trip, a Group One performer in France the past two seasons has been sold to Australian Bloodstock and has now left Fabrice Chappet's yard. He will join Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. The G1 Cox Plate (2040m) is a likely first target with a longer-term goal being the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) run on the first Tuesday in November in Australia.
Défi des Jockeys Trot au Galop
Seven drivers took part last week in the Défi des Jockeys Trot au Galop at Deauville – Matthieu Mottier, Alexandre Abrivard, Antoine Lherete, Mathilde Collet, François Lagadeuc, Alexis Grimault and defending champion Adrien Lamy. It was Alexandre Abrivard who won the all-weather event riding Hootton (Wootton Bassett).
Later that same day, Cabourg was the location for the Flat jockeys attempt to drive the sulkies where jockey Thomas Trullier secured victory.
