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Weekly Round-Up of French Racing and Trotting - 7th December 2021.
Vincennes hosted most of the Black type action last week with mutiple high-class fixtures alongside Auetuil who staged their final meeting of the year...
| Date | Thursday, December 2 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R5 Prix Raoul Balliere |
| Type | G2 3yo Mounted (2175m) |
| Winner | Ici C'Est Paris |
| Jockey/Driver | David Thomain |
| Trainer | Philippe Allaire |
| Breeding | Dollar Macker x Blue Valentine |
| Second | Ideale Du Chene |
| Third | Indigo Du Poret |
| Heavy favourite Ici C'Est Paris took up the lead entering the back straight before pulling clear with Ideale Du Chene. The pair sustained a tremendous duel with David Thomain galvanising his charge to hold on narrowly. The son of Dollar Macker has confirmed himself as one of the top of his mounted generation. He is set to compete in the G1 Prix de Vincennes this month, the equivalent of the Critérium des 3 ans for mounted performers. | |
| Date | Thursday, December 2 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R7 Prix Paul Buquet |
| Type | G2 6-10yo Mounted (2850m) |
| Winner | Boss Du Meleuc |
| Jockey/Driver | Alexandre Abrivard |
| Trainer | Yannick Alain Briand |
| Breeding | Lucky Blue x Rafale Du Meleuc |
| Second | Mindyourvalue W.F. |
| Third | Florida Sport |
| Boss Du Meleuc rallied late to get up in the shadows of the winning post producing a 1'12" kilometre time for jockey Alexandre Abrivard. After sitting handy throughout, it looked as if joint-favourite Mindyourvalue W.F. had slipped the field, but the winner found plenty down the straight to win comfortably. Clegs Des Champs came from the back of the pack with a strong looking effort before being disqualified rounding for home. | |
| Date | Saturday, December 4 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R1 Prix Vourasie |
| Type | G3 2yo fillies Walk up (2200m) |
| Winner | Just Love You |
| Jockey/Driver | Alexandre Abrivard |
| Trainer | Laurent Claude Abrivard |
| Breeding | Love You x Just In Love |
| Second | Jazzy Perrine |
| Third | Jet Set Bond |
| Just Love You remains unbeaten after taking this class rise in her stride. The Love You filly was allowed to hit the front passing the stands with a circuit to race. She steadied the pack at the end of the back straight before kicking for home round the final bend, seeing off the challenge of Jet Set Bond. Alexandre Abrivard had enough in hand to keep the fast-finishing Jazzy Perrine at bay. | |
| Date | Saturday, December 4 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R2 Prix Timoko |
| Type | G3 2yo colts & geldings Walk up (2200m) |
| Winner | Juninho Dry |
| Jockey/Driver | Paul Philippe Ploquin |
| Trainer | Sébastien Guarato |
| Breeding | Carat Williams x Delicatessen |
| Second | Just A Gigolo |
| Third | Jaguar Wit |
| Juninho Dry was a fast-finishing third behind Just A Gigolo in the G3 Prix Louis Cauchois over the same course and distance before reversing that form in no uncertain terms. The winner benefitted from a quicker tempo on this occasion, with Jubile Prior pestering the runner-up from the outset. Sébastien Guarato sat midfield before delivering a withering run down the centre of the home straight to get up close to home, with a clocked kilometre of 1'15". | |
| Date | Saturday, December 4 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R6 Prix Doynel De Saint-Quentin |
| Type | G2 5yo Walk up (2850m) |
| Winner | Ampia Mede SM |
| Jockey/Driver | Franck Nivard |
| Trainer | Fabrice Souloy |
| Breeding | Ganymede x Polimpia Slide SM |
| Second | Ganay De Banville |
| Third | Gamay De L'Iton |
| Ampia Mede SM continued her meteoric rise with an eighth straight victory and a second Group Two prize under a perfect Franck Nivard ride. She sat midfield before moving onto the coattails of the leaders at the end of the back straight for the final time. Let loose down the home stretch, she produced a devastating turn of foot to take the lead 100m from the finish, winning with plenty to spare, in a sensational kilometre time of 1'12". The daughter of Ganymede will now race in the G2 Prix Tenor De Baune (2700m) on December 26, in order to gain qualification for the G1 Grand Prix d'Amerique (2700m) at the end of January. She could be the main danger to trotting superstar Face Time Bourbon attempting to enter the record books as a triple winner of the historic race. | |
| Date | Saturday, December 4 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R7 Prix Sans Dire Oui |
| Type | G3 5-6yo Mounted (2850m) |
| Winner | Fantaisie |
| Jockey/Driver | François Lagadeuc |
| Trainer | Nicolas Bridault |
| Breeding | Un Mec D'Heripre x Quita D'Eronville |
| Second | Georgica Gede |
| Third | Gabiano |
| Fantaisie won her fifth consecutive mounted race under a clever ride from François Lagadeuc. The jockey led early before sitting second against the pegs as Gef De Play took up the running. Short-priced favourite Georgica Gede travelled ominously well as Fantaisie was asked for maximum effort regaining the lead at the final turn. However, the winner had kicked a few lengths clear and was not for catching, registering a huge career-best performance with her first Group victory. | |
| Date | Sunday, December 5 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R3 Prix RFM |
| Type | G3 4yo Walk up (2850m) |
| Winner | Helios Des Arcs |
| Jockey/Driver | Anthony Barrier |
| Trainer | Vincent Gouin |
| Breeding | Kaiser Soze x Union Ar Carac |
| Second | Horchestro |
| Third | Hidalgo Des Noes |
| Never far from the pace, Helios Des Arcs scored in his first Group event with late thrust from a strong Anthony Barrier ride. The son of Kaiser Koze may have been a shade fortunate with the late disqualification of leader Headscott but there is no doubt about his determination and could be a force to be reckoned with at this level going forward. Horchestro came with a big, late run down the centre of the course however the line came in time for the winner. | |
| Date | Sunday, December 5 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R4 Prix Maurice De Folleville – GN Finale |
| Type | G2 5-10yo Walk up (2850m) |
| Winner | Cleangame |
| Jockey/Driver | Jean-Michel Bazire |
| Trainer | Jean-Michel Bazire |
| Breeding | Ouragan De Celland x Red Bell |
| Second | Firello |
| Third | Freyja Du Pont |
| The only starter to race from 2900m, Cleangame, overcame the 50m handicap in scintillating style. The Jean-Michel Bazire performer swept to the lead 1000m from the finish and put the race to bed easily under an exquisite ride. Cleangame holds the record over this track and trip with a 1'11" kilometre rating but he didn't need to repeat such a value to win. Incredibly, this was Jean-Michel Bazire's eighth finale winner and his family boasted the first three places in this season's renewal – the maestro's Firello ran a commendable runner-up with son Nicolas driving and training the third home, Freyja Du Pont. | |
| Date | Sunday, December 5 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R5 Prix Des PMU Ile De France |
| Type | G3 3yo Walk up (2850m) |
| Winner | Izoard Védaquais |
| Jockey/Driver | Eric Raffin |
| Trainer | Philippe Allaire |
| Breeding | Bird Parker x Dokha Vedaquaise |
| Second | Inbreed |
| Third | Ixora |
| The irrepressible three-year-old champion in waiting, Izoard Védaquais, remains unbeaten in twelve starts as he swept all before him in this Group Three prize. Philippe Allaire's charge erased the 25m handicap, maintaining a high cruising speed to take the lead entering the home straight. He powered clear of his inferior opposition, indicating the challenge ahead for his rivals in the forthcoming G1 Critérium des 3 ans at this track on December 19. | |
| Date | Sunday, December 5 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R7 Letrot Open des Régions – 5 ans |
| Type | G3 5yo Walk up (2850m) |
| Winner | Ghost Des Charrons |
| Jockey/Driver | Anthony Barrier |
| Trainer | Joris Filograsso |
| Breeding | Up The Green x Pinta Quick |
| Second | Galago Du Cadran |
| Third | Gaylord Jayf |
| Ghost Des Charrons is riding the crest of a wave this season after notching a first Group success. The son of Up The Green has won three consecutive wins in easier driven company before a disqualification at Lyon-Parilly. He bounced back to form in impressive style here. Always racing prominently, Anthony Barrier secured the perfect trip as Gaspar D'Angis broke stride leading around the final bend, before running on strongly to score. This was also his trainer's first Group prize. | |
| Date | Thursday, December 2 |
| Venue | Auteuil |
| Race | R5 Prix François de Poncins |
| Type | 4yo Listed hurdle (3600m) |
| Winner | Roberto Has |
| Jockey/Driver | Angelo Zuliani |
| Trainer | François Nicolle |
| Breeding | Saints Des Saints x Roll On Has |
| Second | Hokusai Vallis |
| Third | Gloretta |
| The François Nicolle-trained Roberto Has produced a career best to gain a first black-type success with an authoritative twelve-length victory. This progressive filly handled deep ground with aplomb, stretching well clear of her rivals under a confident ride from Angelo Zuliani. She scored on chase debut previously and remains an exciting performer. | |
