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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 14th December 2021.
In this week's round-up, Vincennes dominated the Group action with the highlight of the weekend being the G2 Prix du Bourbonnais (2850m)...
| Date | Saturday 11 December |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | Prix Narquois |
| Type | Driven – G3 – 2700m – Five year olds |
| Winner | Eric The Eel |
| Jockey/Driver | Adrien Lamy |
| Trainer | Tomas Malmqvist |
| Breeding | Muscle Hill x Laurel America |
| Second | Giant Chief |
| Third | Empire |
| Danish raider Eric The Eel took advantage of the absence of Ampia Mede Sm to take the G3 Prix Narquois (2700m). The five-year-old had been forced to fill minor placings behind Ampia Mede Sm over the past few weeks and deserves to add a Group Three to his tally. Third placed Empire is a high-class performer in his native Scandinavia. | |
| Date | Saturday 11 December |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | Prix Albert Rayon |
| Type | Driven – G3 – 2100m – Three year old fillies |
| Winner | Cash Bank Bigi |
| Jockey/Driver | Alessandro Gocciadoro |
| Trainer | Alessandro Gocciadoro |
| Breeding | The Bank x Settenote Club |
| Second | Inmarosa |
| Third | Chloe Bar |
| Cash Bank Bigi benefited from the disqualification of Isla Bonita in the closing stages to win the G3 Prix Albert Rayon (2100m). One of two Italian representatives from the Gocciadoro training establishment, Cash Bank Bigi won eight times between February and July this year. She was unfortunately disqualified in the Italian Oaks. | |
| Date | Saturday 11 December |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | Prix Octave Dousnel |
| Type | Driven – G2 - 2700m – Four year old colts |
| Winner | Hohneck |
| Jockey/Driver | Francois Lagadeuc |
| Trainer | Philippe Allaire |
| Breeding | Royal Dream x Caranca |
| Second | Hooker Berry |
| Third | Hussard du Landret |
| Spectators at Vincennes enjoyed a thrilling battle down the final straight as Hohneck and Hooker Berry went stride-for-stride in the G2 Prix Octave Dousnel (2700m). Hohneck has only finished out of the placings twice in his last eighteen runs, which included sixteen Group attempts. The third-placed Hussard du Landret should not be dismissed either, matching the pace of the front two finishers in the closing stages. | |
| Date | Saturday 11 December |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | Prix Urgent |
| Type | Mounted – G3 – 2700m – Three Year olds |
| Winner | Inshore |
| Jockey/Driver | Alexandre Abrivard |
| Trainer | Laurent-Claude Abrivard |
| Breeding | Real de Lou x Beaute Winner |
| Second | Isildur Paulois |
| Third | Ideal d'Avenir |
| Inshore is expected to head to the G1 Prix de Vincennes on 26 December after a resounding victory in the G3 Prix Urgent (2700m). The colt has shown ability since his qualification at Le Mans as a two-year-old and he has improved again for the switch to mounted company.
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| Date | Sunday 12 December |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | Prix du Bourbonnais |
| Type | Driven - G2 – 2850m – Four to ten year olds |
| Winner | Etonnant |
| Jockey/Driver | Anthony Barrier |
| Trainer | Richard Westerink |
| Breeding | Timoko x Migraine |
| Second | Face Time Bourbon |
| Third | Rebella Matters |
| Etonnant was a shock winner of the G2 Prix du Bourbonnais (2850m), beating the champion Face Time Bourbon. Face Time Bourbon looked in full control of the race at the 500m marker and extended away in the final straight yet seemed to flounder in the final 100m allowing a late charge from Etonnant. Etonnant was declared the winner at the line. The consistent Rebella Matters picked up a well-deserved qualification spot in third and former Italian trained contender Zacon Gio demonstrated considerable improvement to find fourth.
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| Date | Sunday 12 December |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | Prix Ariste Hemard |
| Type | Driven – 2700m – G2 – Four year old fillies |
| Winner | Havanaise |
| Jockey/Driver | Franck Nivard |
| Trainer | Francois Pierre Bossuet |
| Breeding | Timoko x Migraine |
| Second | Sayonara |
| Third | Huwaga |
| Havanaise registered a fourth consecutive victory in the G2 Prix Ariste Hemard (2700m) after wins at Laval and Les Sables d'Olonne. It was a memorable result for the filly in more than one way – it was her first Group win, a new personal best kilometre rating and a new race record. | |