Aurelien Lemaitre

Yeguada Centurion's homebred Wootton Centurion (Wootton Bassett), who earned a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, with a six-length romp at Chantilly in September, returned to the scene of that debut triumph to record a narrow victory and retain his perfect record in Thursday's Prix de la Croix de Pontarme. Sent into an immediate lead once again, the 29-10 second choice was headed by 1-2 favourite Lord Clover (Siyouni) soon after passing the furlong marker and rallied gamely under continued rousting to deny that rival by a head in the...

In many ways, the seven-furlong G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret around ParisLongchamp's bends was tailor-made for Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) and with the all-important draw and testing ground in his favour he was able to produce a career-defining performance on what looks to be his swansong. While this is a 'Win And You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Mile, the chances are we have seen the last of Bond Thoroughbred's high-powered cruiser who had so long promised to live up to his status as a TDN Rising Star, presented...

Hisaaki Saito's Waybreaker (Galiway), who backed up a debut win at Deauville in August with a fifth back there in the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage later that month, made the leap forward and secured a first black-type triumph in Friday's G3 Prix de Conde Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud, a contest won last year by G1 Derby runner-up and G1 Irish Derby third Lazy Griff (Protectionist). "He looked real well in his work at home, but we never got to the bottom of why he ran...

Fast but not quite fast enough for six furlongs, Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) was back in his comfort zone on Sunday and back in the winner's enclosure at the end of ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. Let loose from the outset of the seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat prep by Aurelien Lemaitre, the 19-10 favourite who was fourth in Chantilly's G3 Prix Texanita speed test last month relished the opportunity to dominate from an early point. Chased to the line by the Wertheimers' Silius (Dubawi) as he had been...

Christopher Head-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) raced on turbo boost until running out of fuel in last term's G1 Criterium International, but bounced back in style with a pillar-to-post victory in Tuesday's G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. The G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains entry backed up wide-margin victories here and at Saint-Cloud with an eighth-length tally back at the latter venue's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon in his penultimate start. In command and comfortable on the front end for the most of this straight seven-furlong test,...

There was a pair of intriguing newcomers' events staged on Chantilly's Polytrack on Thursday and the fillies' contest saw a taking successful debut for the €700,000 purchase Tigress Of Gaul (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}--Lucerne {GB}, by Frankel {GB}). Sent off the 9-10 favourite for the mile contest, the joint-second highest-priced filly at last year's Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale tracked the leading quartet early under a patient Aurelien Lemaitre. Taking command with 300 metres remaining, the Tim Donworth-trained bay who is owned by Jose Aguirre-Moreno and her breeder Ecurie des Monceaux...

Haras d'Etreham's homebred Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}--Germance, by Silver Hawk), who bagged one of two midsummer outings at Dieppe, fell a neck shy of victory in last month's G3 Prix de Conde and remained upwardly mobile with a dominant performance in Monday's G3 Darley Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville. The 53-10 chance broke swiftly to race third through the initial stages and improved one spot before reaching halfway in this one-mile distaffers' heat. Inching ahead in early straight, she scooted clear under urging approaching the furlong pole and was ridden...

Bouncing back to her best, Ramatuelle (Justify--Raven's Lady {GB}, by Raven's Pass) ended a frustratingly long wait for another career success in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret to close out ParisLongchamp's elite contests in style. Completing another strong Arc day for the fillies, the 3-year-old whose owners include Tony Parker's Infinity Nine Horses had been without a win since the G2 Prix Robert Papin last July but was on her A-game from the outset here tanking on the heels of the leaders. Set alight by Aurelien Lemaitre approaching...

Nurlan Bizakov's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and G3 Prix Daphnis victor Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}--Raushan {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), who trailed all six rivals home in last month's G1 Prix du Moulin, bounced back to form in style with a determined win in Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp. The 68-5 chance was positioned within range of the leaders in fourth through halfway in this one-mile test. Making headway once into the home straight, he inched ahead of Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) with 300 metres remaining...

Perfect through two eyecatching wins at Deauville in August and Chantilly last month, 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) continued his impressive rise with an untroubled pillar-to-post triumph in Friday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud to retain his unbeaten record in style. The 1-5 favourite was swiftly into stride and soon established a clear lead. Tanking along in hand throughout, he was in another parish turning for home and required minimal encouragement in the straight to easily outclass...

Christopher Head trainee Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Happen, by War Front) endured a first defeat in three career starts when runner-up in last month's G3 Prix Francois Boutin and bounced back with a game victory in Sunday's G3 Prix La Rochette at ParisLongchamp. The 11-10 favourite, previously successful in two seven-furlong heats at Compiegne, broke smartly and raced in a prominent second from flagfall in this fourth start at the specialist distance. Stoked up with a quarter-mile remaining, he joined long-time leader Sir Tommy Cen (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) entering...

Making an instant impact in Thursday's Arqana Series Des Poulains at Deauville, Peter Maher, Carl Fitzgerald and John Baxter's Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) became his sire's ninth TDN Rising Star. Out of a half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the €220,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate soon had control on the front end under Aurelien Lemaitre. Sent into the clear passing the furlong pole, the Christopher Head-trained 23-10 favourite registered an impressive 3 1/2-length success from Mighty Boy...