From Riyad to Meydan and Cheltenham to Aintree, French based horses, stallions, trainers, and jockeys have just witnessed a highly successful five-week period gaining big race glory. We look back at the global success for French racing.
International French success commenced at the Saudi Cup Meeting where current and former French jockeys were the big winners. Christophe Lemaire (based in Japan) rode four winners and Flavian Prat (living on the west coast of the USA) with Olivier Peslier each winning one race.
Despite his failure in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m) Sealiway, winner of the 2021 G1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Ascot (UK) last October, bounced back to finish second behind Skaletti (another international Group One winning French horse in Germany) in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt (2000m) at Longchamp last weekend.
Hadi de Carrere won the feature Group One race dedicated to Arab-bred horses. Trained by Frenchman Thomas Fourcey, this added another feature race to the master trainers' record.
At the end of March Meydan – located in Dubai - hosted their feature meeting of the season. French jockey Ronan Thomas made a perfect start to the card winning the first race riding First Classs in the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic (2000m) for Arab-bred horses. The French based Thomas Fourcy trained, Hadi de Carrere ran an excellent race to finish third in his attempt to win the Saudi-Arabia-UAE Arabian-bred feature double.
Christophe Soumillon also placed third at Meydan riding Storm Damage in the G2 Godolphin Mile (1600m). Christophe Lemaire also found success winning the G2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) on Stay Foolish. A couple of hours later, he rode the Japanese trained, Authority into the placings when third in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m).
Last years' G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m) winner, A Case of You boosted that piece of form landing the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m).
From feature Group One flat racing to Grade One jumping action.
The Cheltenham Festival in the United Kingdom is recognised as the best four-days of jumping found anywhere in the world.
French-based sires enjoyed plenty of success with French-bred runners being responsible for eight winners of the twenty-eight races, including the feature races on Wednesday and Friday – the Cheltenham Gold Cup (5200m) and the Queen Mother Champion Chase (3200m).
Kapgarde was a top-class jumper in the early 2000's and is based at Haras de le Hetraie, in the north-west of France near Caen. As a sire he continues to influence the staying steeplechase ranks not only in France but also the UK and Ireland. Last month his eight-year-old son, A Plus Tard went one place better than in 2021 and won the G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup (5200m). After five starts in France his ability was identified and sold to Irish connections where he has continued to progress winning the biggest prize of them all. Third in the same race, Protektorat, commenced his career in France and was runner-up at Auteuil in the Listed Prix Finot Poulains hurdle (3600m) in September 2018. Since then, the seven-year-old son of Saint Des Saints, based at Haras d'Etreham, has progressed to the top level.
Kapgarde's success continued to the Aintree (UK) Grand National meeting where he sired further top-graded winners Clan Des Obeaux (winner of the G1 Bowl Steeplechase (5000m)) and Fakir D'oudairies, who placed once in France from five runs and won the G1 Marsh Steeplechase (4000m).
He is represented by other leading chasers in the UK and Ireland, including former G1 King George VI Chase (4800m) winner Clan Des Obeaux (did not race at the Cheltenham Festival).
Further big race victories were gained for French based stallion, No Risk At All who stands at Haras de Montaigu's with notable winners including Allaho (G1 Festival Trophy (4100m) and Epatante who went one place better from the G1 Champion Hurdle (3200m) at Cheltenham to win the G1 Aintree Hurdle (4000m) three weeks later.
Although Energumene benefited from the early exit of leading market rival Shiskin, the Willie Mullins-trained runner was a worthy winner of the G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase (3200m) for deceased sire Denham Red. The stallion had previously been represented at the Festival by popular multiple Grade One winning chaser Un De Sceaux.
Flat sires Galiway and Montmartre also achieved success. Vauban (Galiway) was a Listed winner on the Flat in France and has been an exciting recruit for the Willie Mullins stable. His victory in the G1 Triumph Hurdle (3400m) was impressive and connections have expressed interest in targeting big prizes in both codes. The Aga Khan's Montmartre is an attractive commercial prospect for breeders, standing at 4,000 euros in 2022. Elimay's win in the G2 Mares' Chase was his second victory at the Cheltenham Festival, having previously been successfully represented by Labaik in the 2017 G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle (3400m).
For more information about the leading French-based jumps sires, please click here.
French-based Sires (Winners)
Cheltenham
1st – G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup – A Plus Tard (Kapgarde x Turboka)
1st – G1 Ryanair Chase – Allaho (No Risk At All x Idaho Falls)
1st - G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase – Energumene (Denham Red x Olinight)
1st – G1 Triumph Hurdle – Vauban (Galiway x Waldfest)
1st – G2 Mares' Chase – Elimay (Montmartre x Hyde)
1st – Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase – Delta Work (Network x Robbe)
1st – Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase – Chambard (Gris de Gris x Regina Park)
Aintree
1st – G1 Bowl Steeplechase (5000m) – Clan Des Obeaux (Kapgarde x Nausicaa des Obeaux)
1st – G1 Marsh Steeplechase (4000m) – Fakir D'oudairies (Kapgarde x Niagaria du Bois)
