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Weekly Review of French Racing.
There was no Jumping Black Type contests this past week, so it was down to trotting and flat racing to provide the very best these past seven days. This included a key trial race for the G1 Prix d'Amérique (2700m) which is to be held in late January.
Trotting
On Saturday afternoon, Vincennes hosted three feature races.
First up was the G2 mounted Prix Raoul Ballière (2175m) for three-year olds where Hope on Victory was a well named winner as she raced away in impressive style to record a wide margin success. With 1500m to go, Manuel Martinez's filly recorded 1'08 '' delivering a new three-year-old record over 2175m at Vincennes. The Prix de Vincennes (2700m) in a fortnight is a logical target.
Helboy D'Alesa found success in the G3 European Prix de Mansle (2100m) for three-year old colts. The son of Rodrigo Jet entered the home straight four horses wide in mid division but made-up significant headway in the final 200m to give victory for driver Mathieu Mottier and trainer Alexis Philippe Grimault.
The G2 Prix Octave Douesnel (2700m) for four-year olds is a key trial race of the G1 Critérium Continental run over the festive period. It went the way of driver Franck Nivard as he steered home Gu D'Heripre to a narrow victory, powering through a gap in the final 150m and holding off the fast-finishing Gelati Cut.
The final Black Type event on Saturday's card was the G3 European Prix Narquois (2700m) for five-year olds. Jean-Michel Bazire kept up his tradition of having his name in the Weekly Round Up with an excellent training and driving performance. On the home turn Feydeau Seven was tracking the leader and had to find the top gear to pass him. The burst of speed in the final 50m allowed him to sail by. The G1 Critérium des 5 Ans (3000m) sixth (1'12'7) is open to further progress and is a name for the notebook.
Sunday was an important fixture in The Winter Meeting at Vincennes with key preparation races for Group Ones to be held in the coming weeks and months.
The biggest race was the second "B" qualifier for the G1 Prix d'Amérique (2700m) – The G2 Prix d'Amérique Qualif 2 (Prix du Bourbonnais) (2850m) for four-to-ten-year olds.
Face Time Bourbon arrived as the the highest prize-money earner in the race and therefore appeared at the bottom of the racecard. The superstar shined once again, and Facetime Bourbon recorded another success. Despite galloping in the first 50m, driver Björn Goop managed to settle the five-year-old son of Ready Cash in mid field only to then be forced five deep around the first turn to adopt the pace setting role. Sébastien Guarato's star quickened away however in the final 200m and proved a class above his rivals. Victor Ferm and Moni Viking made up the placings with the previous two-time winner of the event, Delia du Pommereux fourth.
Sébastien Guarato did not have to wait a long time before another visit to the Vincennes Winners Circle. Green Grass broke through for success in the G2 Prix Ariste Hémard (2700m) for four-year-old fillies which is a key preparation toward the G1 Critérium Continental. The barefooted daughter of Bold Eagle had many rivals in close proximity, but she narrowly prevailed for driver Mathieu Mottier.
Flat
Deauville hosted the only flat Black Type event in the past week which came on the all-weather on Saturday with a marathon eleven race programme. The Listed Prix Luthier (1500m) for three-year olds and above was the feature. A strong pace was set, and luck was required to win. Jockey Cristian Demuro was forced to weave around the pack from the rear down the home straight on Kenway who managed to get up and score for trainer Frédéric Rossi.
