The “French Grand National”, the Président de la République Chase (Gr3) is the best-rated handicap run at Auteuil with € 155,000 in prize money. They are 20 at the start this year to take the outer steeple-chases course, over the distance of almost 3 miles.The race is usually held in April and has been delayed due to the […]
May, ParisLongchamp Prix de Saint-Georges Group 3, 3-year-old and above, 1,000m/5f, €56,000 Created in 1929 Last winner: Sestilio Jet (c4 FRA by French Fifteen ex Hideaway Girl, by Fasliyev), owned by Akhal Teke Properties, bred by Michel Monfort, trained by Andrea Maecialis, ridden by Lanfranco Dettori. Record-time: 55”2 by Sainte Marine (1998) and Peace Offering (2007). The race will be run in […]
It takes a special kind of stupid to make Australian Politicians look good, but their Irish and English counterparts are doing their best. Both Ireland and England banned racing even after Australia provided a workable model for racing to continue, the out of touch politicians chose buy in to the hysteria but the price is […]
Considered the French equivalent of the Grand National, also a handicap and a very well-endowed Group 3, the Président de la République Chase is one and a half mile shorter. On the other hand, with its € 225,000 in prize money, it is one of the most coveted races in Auteuil, and also one of […]
WOOTTON SAGA (F3), FRA by Wootton Basset ex Saga d’Or (Sagacity) €25,000 Prix des Trois Clairières (3yo maiden, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), January 30, Chantilly Owner: Mme Jean-Louis Giral (Prizemoney + Owner Premiums + Breeders Premiums = € 21,752) Trainer: Mikel Delzangles Breeder: Mme Jean-Louis Giral (Breeder Premiums 13% as sired in France = € 2,502) Rider: Vincent Cheminaud Twice second this Winter […]
The 2019 renewal of the Prix André Michel Hurdle (Gr3), for 4+ fillies and lmares, went to Sainte Saône (Saint des Saints), who held her rival Cotée Sud (Lord of South) in respect to the end and won by a good length as Presidente Line (Martaline) finished a ten lengths 3rd. The winner was bred by […]
The Andre Fabre-trained youngster won all five of his races in 2019 and signed off with successive Group 1 victories Horse: EARTHLIGHT Trainer: Ande Fabre. Form: 11111 Blue was the colour in many of the top juvenile races in 2019 as young colts owned by Godolphin rose to the fore. Pinatubo, trained by Charlie Appleby, […]
Classic trainer-turned owner Jean-Claude Rouget and his fellow trainer on the jumps François Nicolle hold a mighty double entry, on friday in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Compiègne (Gr2), and they will try to succeed themselves. The titleholder A Mi Manera (Great Pretender), a 6yo mare, goes along her stablemate The Stomp (Layman). They have filled the exacta in their last two encournters, on this course […]
The two runners presented by Newmarket-based trainer Charlie Appleby in the Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie (Gr3), Friday at Saint-Cloud, took the first two places. In this 2-year-olds race over 7 furlongs, supposedly a prep race for the Critérium International (Gr1) on October 27 in ParisLongchamp on the same distance, King’s Command (Dubawi) contained all attacks after leading […]
The Qatar festival of the Arc weekend in ParisLongchamp starts on Saturday with five Group races including two Groups 1. The Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1), run over 2m4f, and the newly promoted Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr1), for fillies & mares over 1m6f, are the main features on the card. The “Cadran” is one of the oldest […]
Group 1, 3+, 2,400 metres (1m4f), €5m Created in 1920 Record time (Longchamp) : 2’24’’49 in 2011 (Danedream). Found won in 2’23’’61 in 2016 at Chantilly, beating the course record. Last winner : Enable (f4, GB by Nathaniel), Homebred by Juddmonte farms, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori. Held in 2019 for the 98th time. HistoryAfter abandoning […]
October, ParisLongchamp Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Group 1, 3+, 2,400 metres (1m4f), €5m Created in 1920 Record time (Longchamp) : 2’24’’49 in 2011 (Danedream). Found won in 2’23’’61 in 2016 at Chantilly, beating the course record. Last winner : Enable (f4, GB by Nathaniel), Homebred by Juddmonte farms, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori. Held in 2019 for the […]
Saturday’s card at ParisLongchamp is typical of a side meeting, nestled between the Arc Trials and the Arc weekend, in a fortnight. In this timing, the Prix du Prince d’Orange (Gr3), a 10 furlongs race for 3-year-olds, can be seen as a last opportunity to tune up for the Arc, even if this idea has not given […]
Arc Trials day : faster and longer Two Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend prep races were on the card on Sunday at ParisLongchamp. Run over 5 furlongs, the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Gr3) leads to the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Gr1). Oddly enough, the last winners of the French top sprint who […]
Qatar Niel : Sottsass wins a thriller of a race Sottsass (Siyouni) left a big impression on the Sunday card at ParisLongchamp in the Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2). Completely boxed-in when things started to take a serious turn, the colt who races the colours of White Birch Farm of Peter Brant fame, stamped his authority in 100m once […]
Qatar Vermeille : Star Catcher holds on to her crown The favourite from England Star Catcher (Sea the Stars) won the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1) from pillar to post, on Sunday at ParisLongchamp. Trained by John Gosden for her breeder Anthony Oppenheimer, the 3-year-old filly was ridden by Lanfranco Dettori. She finally beats a group of four fillies and […]
Qatar Foy : Waldgeist gets perfect prep Winner of the 2018 Qatar Prix Foy (Gr2), Waldgeist (Galileo) strikes again, taking over the front-running Japanese raider Kiseki (Rulership) about one out to finally take off and win by 2 lengths over Way To Paris (Champs Elysees). The latter took a rather convincing test here after becoming one of the best active stayers in France. […]
Two Group 3 races are contested on Monday on the Maisons-Laffitte racecourse. The Prix Eclipse (Gr3) is a 6 furlongs race for 2-year-olds won last year by Sporting Chance, who then finished fifth in the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2) on the same course and then tried his luck at the best level in Meydan. In the Eclipse, the English […]
The Autumn meeting at Auteuil is basically the same than the Spring. It begins tomorrow Tuesday with an eight races-card and 92 a healthy 92 runners. In total, 18 race days are scheduled until the closing day, on Novembre 29. That is 139 courses including 24 Group races, and more specifically five Group1s. Every generation and both […]
Prix de Fontenoy (Unraced 2yo Colts & Geldings, 1,600m / 1m), September 1st, ParisLongchamp Owner: Godolphin Trainer: André Fabre Breeder: Godolphin Rider: Mickaël Barzalona Not much suspens as soon as Victor Ludorum (Shamardal) passed top gear -or was it 2nd top gear?- in a beginners race won in 2016 by Arc fancy Waldgeist. Also he […]
Kenway (Galiway) came from last to first in the final two furlongs of the 7-furlongs Prix La Rochette (Gr3), Sunday at ParisLongchamp. Bred by Guy Pariente and owned by the Chehboub family’s Haras de la Gousserie, Kenway confirmed his recent Listed win at Vichy on the same distance. He headed Wooded (Wootton Bassett), who had […]
By winning the Prix de Lutèce (Gr3), a 3-year race over 15 furlongs at ParisLongchamp, running away without any kind of challenge, Moonlight Spirit (Dubawi) seized the French young stayers’ crown. Trained in England by Charlie Appleby, he had finished third in the Prix du Lys (Gr3) on this course in May, then fourth in the Queen’s Vase (Gr2) at Royal […]
The first Sunday meeting of the season in Paris Longchamp is filled with hopeful youngsters, as three important races restricted to two-year-olds take place. These are two important beginners’ races, the Prix de Fontenoy for colts and the Prix de la Cascade for fillies, both of which are run over a mile. Romancière and Matematica […]
The fillies take the Prix d’Arenberg (Gr3) by storm on Saturday over the straight 5 furlongs course at Chantilly. For this “Parisian” comeback after the Deauville meeting, seven of them go ahead against a single colt, Master McGrath (No Nay Never), who comes from England after registering his first success, early in August at Sandown on the same distance than Saturday, […]
MUSHAYYED (M3), GB by Dubawi and Al Ishq (Nureyev) Prix du Hamel (3 years old Maiden, 1500m PSF), Wednesday 28 August 2019 in Deauville Owner : Hamdan Al Maktoum Coach : Freddy Head Breeder : Shadwell Estate Jockey : Aurélien Lemaître End-to-end victory and no apparent difficulty for the favorite Mushayyed (Dubawi) who puts an end to […]
Commitments for the Arc Trials of the main preparatory meeting for the Qatar weekend Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), Sunday, September 15, were received Wednesday morning at France Galop. The main actors expected during this dress rehearsal were present at the start of Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1), Foy (Gr2) and Niel (Gr2). The three races are contested on […]
A son of No Nay Never became the most expensive colt sold on the final day of the 2019 Arqana August Yearling Sale when bringing a bid of €230,000 from Mandore Agency on behalf of MV Magnier. Consigned by Haras des Capucines, the bay is already named as Irish Trip and is the first foal out of […]
The first million sale at the 2019 Arqana August Yearling Sale came courtesy of Ecurie des Monceaux and Lady O’Reilly’s Galileo colt out of Prudente, a full-sister to the dam of Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Montjeu). At a bid of €1.5million, the successful buyer was Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida, much to his delight, as he later explained, […]
Mare will have her final race at Ascot on October 19 after gaining a second Group One success in France. Coronet is set to have the final run of her career on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 19 after providing John Gosden and Frankie Dettori with yet another Group One winner in […]
Marmelo (Duke of Marmalade) started as the logical favourite in the 15 furlongs Darley Prix Kergorlay (Gr2), Sunday at Deauville. The Hughie Morrison-trained 6-year-old won the race at 4 in 2017 and finished second last year behind Holdthasigreen, who was not here this year. Ridden as usual in France by Christophe Soumillon, Marmelo once again made the […]
The Dermot Weld-trained Hazakiyra (3f Camelot – Hazarafa, by Daylami) stayed on well to take the mile and a half Fillies Maiden at Tramore on Saturday, where she completed the first leg of a double for her sire Camelot. The Aga Khan homebred raced in mid-division for much of the way and produced a challenge in the straight, chasing […]
The 2019 edition of the August Yearling Sale opened its doors, with the median close to €283, 000 recording a 23 per cent rise with the clearance staying solid from 2018. The turnover for the session reached €14,580,000. Top price for a son of Galileo A son of top sire stallion Galileo was the most […]
The 2019 renewal of the Darley Prix Morny (Gr1), a juvenile 6 furlongs championship run this Sunday on the Deauville straight course, takes place this year for the 149th time. It is also the final stage of the Darley Series. The first two stages, the Darley Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) and the Darley Prix de Cabourg […]
The Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1), on Sunday at Deauville, is open to aged mares over 1m2f. Created in 2004, the race is still young but it is part of a circuit promoting the best females in Europe, and its record already counts some champions like Pride, Satwa Queen (the only one who appears twice […]
The Gurkha, an ultra-impressive winner of the 2016 French 2,000 Guineas, will see his first yearlings go through the ring at Arqana this weekend. No stranger to racing fans, thanks in part to his thrilling defeat of Galileo Gold in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, his pedigree also needs to introduction, with the son of […]
Eight runners were confirmed in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois(Gr1), Sunday over Deauville’s straight mile. This is the 98th edition of this great summer milers’ championship, supported since 1986 by the stud farm created by Marcel Boussac in 1919, and taken over in 1980 by Stavros Niarchos. The French industrialist and the […]
The favourite of the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), run Sunday at Deauville over the 1,300m/6 1/2 furlongs straight course, the English raider Advertise (Showcasing) stayed on to holf off an other British visitor Brando (Pivotal), who finished like a train to take the 2nd place, beaten a neck. The winner’s timing, 1’15”4, is just over one second worse than the […]
On paper, the Anglo-Irish party seems to dominate the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), Sunday at Deauville over a straight 6 1/2 furlongs course. Ten of the fifteen runners come from Great Britain and Ireland, and their average rating is 112lbs, against 110lbs for the four French entries. However, among them is the titleholder Polydream (Oasis Dream), representing Wertheimer & […]
France Galop and Juddmonte Farms are pleased to announce the introduction of the “Grand Free Pass” qualification system, in which twelve of the best 3-year-olds in Europe will be invited to participate on July 14 in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp. Eight top races in France and England have been selected to […]
The Parisian turf season opens on Sunday March 10th with the first Saint-Cloud meeting of the year. Two Listed events will take place then but the first steps on the classic path follow up next Sunday. Many ways lead to the French classics, The Emirates Poules d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1) and the “Pouliches” […]
The 2018 owners rankings in France are pretty clear. The Godolphin stable of Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum dominates with a total of €5.6m in earnings, plus around €200,000 in owners’ premiums, as most of the horses in this team are traditionally bred abroad and are not assimilated French. This is also the case for Khalid […]
Aga Khan Studs Success at Goffs The Aga Khan Studs’ Classic sires SEA THE STARS and SIYOUNI both boast a strong hand of beautifully-bred yearlings at the prestigious Goffs Orby Sale on 2nd and 3rd October. Arc hero SEA THE STARS, who has shone this season thanks to star performers SEA OF CLASS and STRADIVARIUS […]
The races of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October at ParisLongchamp, will take place without open stretch. Set up on the Parisian racecourse since its re-opening in April, the open stretch proved very conclusive in terms of regularity but, for the races on Sunday, using it could […]
Charm Spirit a Hit for Aga Khan CHARM SPIRIT’s excellent season with his first juveniles continued on Thursday as the appropriately-named Yourtimeisnow offered the young sire his first Group success. Already a winner from pillar to post at Newbury in August, on this occasion Yourtimeisnow showed both courage and a turn of foot. She took […]
Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1) The 4-year-old Recoletos (Whipper) won his second Group 1, Sunday, September 9 at ParisLongchamp in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1). Second in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) at 3, Recoletos was bred by the Spanish Hinojosa family, whose stud is based in Normandy. Before his […]
Enable Ready to Defend her Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Crown Enable bounced back with a bang as she gained a fluent all-the-way triumph in the 188Bet September Stakes at Kempton Park. The John Gosden-trained four-year-old, whose five Group 1 wins last year included three QIPCO British Champions Series triumphs, had been absent since winning […]
Godolphin and Charlie Appleby Success in France by J A McGrath at Godolphin Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has been approaching Deauville like a Frenchman, using the popular Normandy seaside venue as a launching pad for his future stars. British-born Appleby has sent out seven winners from 15 runners there in August, including one at quaint […]
France: #DarleySeries Sees Europe’s Best 2yos The toast of Europe’s new generation is meeting in Deauville in the Darley Prix Morny (Gr1), final leg of the #DarleySeries. Nine 2-year-old colts and fillies have been confirmed on the 6 furlongs straight course. Naturally there are the winners of the two previous #DarleySeries, namely Signora Cabello (Camacho), […]
Mastercraftsman Strikes Again in France Three days after Alpha Centauri (3f Mastercraftsman-Alpha Lupi, by Rahy) stole the show in Deauville’s G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, another three-year-old daughter of Mastercraftsman starred at the Normandy track on Wednesday. Andre Fabre saddled Wind Chimes (3f Mastercraftsman-Militante, by Johannesburg), who was beaten a neck in the G1 Poule […]
Enable Aims at Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) Enable (Nathaniel), the 2017 winner of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), is to bypass next week’s York Meeting. Instead, with her Arc title defence very much in mind, connections have instead opted to aim her at the September Stakes (Gr3), on the Kempton […]
Alpha Centauri and the Breeders’ Cup Mile The Niarachos Family’s homebred 3-year-old filly Alpha Centauri (IRE) won her fourth consecutive Group 1 race on Sunday, dominating the one-mile Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard – Jacques Le Marois (G1) over male rivals at Deauville with a 2 ½-length victory over Recoletos (FR), and gained an […]
Breeders’ Cup: All Eyes on Alpha Centauri in France The Niarchos Family, which has won the Breeders’ Cup Mile a record six times, may have another star in its galaxy of future champions with its 3-year-old homebred super filly Alpha Centauri (IRE), who looms as the heavy favorite against male rivals for the first time […]
France Racing: Deauville Barrière The Deauville Barrière meeting begins this weekend with two high class cards including a Group 1 and three Group 3 events. On Sunday, the Prix Rothschild (Gr1) opens the ball of the five Groups 1 run every Summer in Deauville. A mile race open to fillies and mares aged 3yo and […]
French Racing Roundup Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) Cracksman (Frankel) is one of the top contenders in the forthcoming Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). However, the Anthony Oppenheimer-owned colt, who races in the same colours as the 2015 ‘Arc’ winner Golden Horn, is coming off a disappointing second in the Prince […]
France: ARQANA August Yearling Sale Further underlining the quality of a selection that hails from the top French and European nurseries, this year has seen a plethora of exciting performances from previous graduates, not least 2016 sales topper MAGIC WAND who captured the Gr.2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last week in dazzling style. She […]
Horse Racing in France Alive and Well Horse racing in France is attracting growing crowds and a lot of interest. The lure of the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) succeeded in attracting a crowd of 26,000 at Chantilly last Sunday. France’s biggest race for three-year-old fillies was annexed by Laurens (Siyouni), who is trained in […]
French Racing: Lady Athena Australia to Arcachon Lady Athena (Redoute’s Choice), trained at La Teste by Yan Durepaire, carries the Australian colours of John Hutchins. For those au fait with the international panorama, the Hutchins name is synonymous with the six times group one winning and Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy. She is […]
Exceed And Excel Continues European Success One of Australia’s best stallions Exceed And Excel recorded a new Black Type winner on Monday, 11 June when his three-year-old daughter Spaday demonstrated an impressive turn of foot to land the Listed Prix Marchand d’Or, run over six and a half furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte. Settled towards the rear […]
G3 John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock Park, UK Dutch Connection and D’bai both return to seven furlongs for the G3 John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock Park, UK, on Saturday, 9 June. Six-year-old Dutch Connection (Charlie Hills/James Doyle) drops back down in distance following an excellent run over a mile on his seasonal return […]
A pair of exciting performers claimed G2 successes on a great afternoon for Galileo at Chantilly on Sunday. First up was three-year-old Mission Impassible (3f Galileo-Margot Did, by Exceed And Excel), a top-notch juvenile last season, who returned to her best to win the G2 Prix de Sandringham for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget (pictured). “I wouldn’t […]
G1 winner Cloth Of Stars and lightly-raced six-year-old Rare Rhythm go for G2 success in the Grand Prix de Chantilly, one of the supporting races on Prix du Jockey Club Day at Chantilly, France, on Sunday, 3 June. Last year’s G1 Prix Ganay scorer Cloth Of Stars (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) lines up over a mile […]
Unbeaten three-year-old colt Key Victory steps up to Classic company for the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, France, on Sunday, 3 June. The son of Teofilo heads into the extended 10-furlong feature on the back of an impressive victory over subsequent Listed winner and stable companion Old Persian in the 10-furlong Listed Newmarket […]
The brilliant Vazirabad added yet another sterling accomplishment to his resume when he rallied from far back to take the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier for the third consecutive year. It was the 13th Group victory for the son of Manduro, who now boasts 15 wins and five second-place finishes in 22 career starts. Settled near […]
The Hong Kong Jockey Club purchased five colts at the 2018 Arqana Breeze-up Sale in Deauville, France (11-12 May), for a total cost of €870,000 (approximately HK$8.281 million). The Club’s purchases are athletic youngsters by a mix of proven stallions and exciting young sires. Among the eye-catching quintet was Lot 161 by Exceed And Excel, […]
European Racing Round Up Rhododendron pipped the luckless Lightning Spear by a short head in a gripping finish to the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Lightning Spear looked like he just about hit the front under Oisin Murphy and was about to spring a 16-1 surprise in the QIPCO British Champions Series showpiece, but […]
European Racing News France Sobetsu gained another big-race victory at Deauville, France, with an impressive display in the 10-furlong G2 Prix de la Nonette on Saturday, August 19. The three-year-old Dubawi filly, an easy winner of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary over the same course and distance in May, led the 10-strong field early on before […]
European Racing News Deauville, Salisbury France Three-year-old colts Avilius and Soleil Marin take on dual Classic winner Brametot in the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano over a mile and a quarter at Deauville, France, on Tuesday, August 15. Avilius (Mickael Barzalona) heads to the Normandy course on the back of two good efforts over 10 furlongs […]
Hawkbill was collared inside the final furlong as he attempted to make all in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, with Racing History taking third in the 12-furlong G1 contest at Hoppegarten, Germany, on Sunday, August 13. Four-year-old Hawkbill (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle), seeking a second G1 success after capturing the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park last […]
Big Racing Weekend in France Three-year-old colts Thunder Snow and Inns Of Court bid for glory in one of Europe’s top mile contests, the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, at Deauville, France, on Sunday, August 13. Thunder Snow (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon) is going for a third major French success and returns to the country […]
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s confidence and belief in Thunder Snow was rewarded when the three-year-old delivered a reminder of his sheer class when delivering a deserved G1 victory in Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly. On a glorious weekend globally for Godolphin, in which James Cummings was swiftly off the mark with a winner […]
Redoute’s Choice Filly Wins Prix Chloe 1800m G3 Viktor Timoshenko’s home-bred filly Ibiza went into Sunday’s €80,000 Chantilly Prix Chloe 1800m G3 as a stakes-placed winner. She came out of the race as the second Group winner from the first of Redoute’s Choice’s two European crops, and the 149th stakeswinner on his specacular lifetime record. […]
Stallion Honorius Could Make his Name in British Classics by Craig Jones for Knightsbridge Bloodstock One of my favourite things about being interested in Horse Racing breeding is pinpointing new stallions to follow. One stallion I like the look of and will follow with interest is Honorius, who will stand in Australia but also stand […]
With prize money of 1.5 million Euros, this race crowns the year’s fastest thoroughbred and is one of the year’s most selective races! This Group I race, the highest category of horse race, is the third stage of the EPIQE Series, a championship circuit made up of the 14 top horse races in France. The […]