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News In Brief of French Racing and Trotting - 7th December 2022.
This week, the News In Brief includes an International drivers challenge race, french jockey Augustine Madamet and the annual Arqana mares and broodmares sale.
Trotting
One of France's leading trainer/drivers Franck Anne passed away suddenly last Thursday. Aged 47 he died following an operation which revealed a failure of the aorta. Commencing as an amateur driver at age 20 he spent time with trainer Joël Hallais and then Bertrand Lefèvre who gave him Girl de Plainville to prepare. He was known for his ability to handle and improve difficult horses. His record of achievements included six Group 1 victories with Vanika du Ruel, Akim du Cap Vert, both in Criteriums, and Nouba Turgot. Five of these successes were achieved in harness with Franck Anne himself in the sulky. Nouba Turgot won the Prix des Élites with Éric Raffin.
Each year during the Winter Meeting, an International drivers challenge race is conducted at Vincennes from behind the mobile over 2100m. This season the race was held last Friday evening and won by France thanks to Éric Raffin scoring with Dahlia du Pont. Second driver home was Gunther Loix (Belgium) and third was British driver Rhun Wilson. A total of fourteen signatory countries of the Trotteur Français convention were represented with twenty-four countries honoured for the support of the breed.
Very prominent in her home country of Sweden for the rankings of best jockeys, Emilia Leo recorded her first French victory on Friday at Chartres. This was her fourth ride in France and won riding Ies Elisabet, trained by Frederik Wallin.
Hannah did not join the field to contest the Prix Hervé Céran Maillard (G2) at Vincennes on Saturday and will be held over to next race on December 18 for the inaugural Prix Bilibili - Cornulier Races (G1).
Last Thursday in the United States at Harrah's Racetrack in Philadelphia, four-year-old Is A Pearl made a successful debut. She is now trained by Julie Miller. Is A Pearl is by Ready Cash and is a sister of Risk Everything (€978,188 in winnings). Her record in France was not strong with only one win at Lyon-Parilly and her last start before departing was finishing down the track at Enghien in July. Her win last week saw a time recorded of 1'58''3/5 over the mile which was a kilometre rating of 1'13''7.
Flat
Two weeks ago in Perth, West Australia, three-year-old filly Amelia's Jewel defeated the colts in the Western Australia Guineas (G2). Last Saturday she did even better by winning the Northerly Stakes (G1), the premier race on the Western Australia calendar run over 1800m at Ascot, facing all-aged horses. She is out of Bumbasina who was purchased at the Tattersalls July sale and sent to French stallion Siyouni. This win gave him his eighth G1 victory and first in the southern hemisphere.
On December 18, French jockey Augustine Madamet will be heading for the winter sunshine at Santa Anita in California (USA) where he will join the stable of Leonard Powell for six weeks. This season saw the best of his career with 44 wins. Such a short stay means he may have few if any opportunities to ride however there is another reason for the trip – he wants to improve his English. Every day in France, he uses it dealing with different foreign trainers and owners for whom he rides.
Jumping
Hawai du Berlais has been retired from racing and will commence the next phase of her career as a broodmare. She was the first Bryant family horse to be trained by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé and her career successes included five Group victories including the Prix Alain du Breil (G1) and Prix Bournosian (G2).
Filly & Broodmare Sales
Arqana conducted the annual mares and broodmare sales this past weekend with record prices achieved.
Malavath, a G3 winner and G1 place three-year-old filly topped the sale reaching €3.2m million and was purchased by Moyglare Stud. The filly will be domiciled in the United States and is to be trained by Christophe Clément.
A price of €2.5m was paid for Prix Vermeille (G1) winner Sweet Lady. Like Malavath she was trained by Francis-Henri Graffard. Claiborne Farm had a long bidding war to secure the mare. She will go to England with her future as a broodmare.
Burgarita was knocked down for €1.7m and bought by Anthony Stroud. The Andre Fabre trained filly who is a dual Listed winner and was placed in the Prix de Diane (G1), will go to stud, and be covered by Dubawi.
Newmarket G2 Rockfel Stakes winner Hello You sold for €1.155m. She is a daughter of Invincible Spirit and purchased by Japanese interests. A decision if to keep her in training has yet to be made.
Times Square will be rehomed in Australia. Winner of the Prix de Saint-Cyr (L) and placed in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) the daughter of Zarak was knocked down for €1.25 million to Hubie de Burgh and James Harron. She will remain in training.
Other highlights included Miss Extra sold for €850.000 and Thunder Drum for €1.1m. Oscula was purchased for €1m. She is the winner of the Prix Six Perfections (G3) and placed in the Prix Marcel Boussac – Critérium des Pouliches (G1). The plan is immediate retirement from racing and will go to stud and covered by Mishriff.