Chantilly

It was not easy for Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay at Chantilly, but White Birch Farm's G1 Prix du Jockey-Club hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third duly delivered to put his 4-year-old campaign on the right track. Settled third early by Cristian Demuro racing without cover as Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) enjoyed an unpestered lead, the even-money favourite who had been fourth in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt at ParisLongchamp May 11 gained a narrow advantage with 300 metres remaining and battled gamely as Way...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Insights features a €3.2-million Goffs Orby sale-topping full-sister to two Group 1 winners. 1.25 Chantilly, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT BONNE IDEE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) created a big impression for the Andre Fabre stable when winning a Lyon-Parilly maiden last month and takes the next step towards...

Dalham Hall Stud resident Territories (Ire) (Invincible {Ire}) became the latest freshman sire to have sired a winner when Haras de la Gousserie's Rougir (Fr) pounced late to garner Wednesday's Prix Pauline over seven furlongs at Chantilly. 2nd-Chantilly, €22,000, Mdn, 6-10, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:29.76, g/s. ROUGIR (FR) (f, 2, Territories {Ire}--Summer Moon {Fr} {SP-Fr}, by Elusive City), originally named as Lune de Printemps (Fr), was restrained to settle off the pace towards the rear for most of this debut. Inching closer once into the straight, the 8-1 chance...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Insights features the first foal out of a full-sister to Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 12:40 Chantilly, Debutantes, €22,000, 2yo, c/g, 7f (AWT) VALDARANN (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) is an early starter for His Highness Aga Khan and the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt is a significant one being out of a...

Following Tuesday's Derby pointer at Leopardstown, there are more preps for the upcoming middle-distance Classics on Wednesday in France and Ireland, with Chantilly staging the G3 Prix de Guiche which is a key pointer to the July 5 G1 Prix du Jockey-Club. There are two from ParisLongchamp's May 14 G3 Prix la Force re-opposing in the third and fourth Chachnak (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) respectively and the form of that nine-furlong contest has already been boosted by the runner-up Ocean Atlantique...

On Monday, footballer Clément Lenglet sent out his 3-year-old colt Bois D'Argent (Toronado {Ire}) to an impressive debut win at Chantilly. A member of France's national team, he currently plays his club football for Barcelona and has two horses in training with Francis-Henri Graffard. Lenglet, who grew up about 40 minutes from Chantilly, is advised by French bloodstock consultant Ghislain Bozo. TDN's Gary King caught up with the centre-back after the win. TDN: Could you describe how you developed your interest in horses and horse racing. CL: My father went...

Gerard Augustin-Normand's Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) led from pillar to post when earning a first black-type score in September's Listed Prix du Pont du Jour at Craon, his final start for the Jean-Claude Rouget stable, and made his first appearance for Pascal Bary in Monday's G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines at Chantilly. The €100,000 Arqana October yearling faced a solid cast in the day's one-mile feature and repeated his frontrunning tactics to secure a career high in style. Breaking smartly from an outer box to lead under restraint from...

Keeping up its morning theme, Chantilly stages a fascinating renewal of the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines for the older milers at 11 a.m. on Monday, with Jean-Claude Seroul's beloved Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) back in the limelight following a stellar 2019 campaign. Scaling the ladder effortlessly with wins in the Listed Prix Jacques de Bremond at Vichy in July and G3 Prix Quincey at Deauville August over this mile trip before securing the 10-furlong G2 Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp in October and G2 Premio Roma at Capannelle in...

All the rage prior to Wednesday's G3 Prix Texanita, Al Shaqab Racing's Wooded (Ire) continued the strong start to the season for his sire Wootton Bassett (GB) by registering an authoritative success in the Chantilly feature. Dropping to this six-furlong trip for the first time, the G3 Prix la Rochette runner-up was able to easily lay up with the pace set by Juddmonte's filly Alocasia (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and when shaken up readily subdued her with 300 metres remaining. Stretching out with stamina assured from there, the 12-5 favourite hit...

Alain Chopard's homebred bay Livachope (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) became the first winner for her Haras de Colleville-based freshman sire (by Kendargent {Fr}) when annexing a five-furlong debutantes' heat at Chantilly. 3rd-Chantilly, €22,000, Mdn, 5-13, unraced 2yo, f, 5fT, :58.99, g/s. LIVACHOPE (FR) (f, 2, Goken {Fr}--Laia Chope {Fr} {SP-Fr}, by Soave {Ger}) recovered from a slightly awkward getaway to track the pace in a handy third after the initial exchanges of this unveiling. Shaken up with 300 metres remaining, the 21-2 chance launched her challenge passing the furlong marker and...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Insights features the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Hurricane Ivor (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}). 11.00 Chantilly, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT CELESTIN (FR) (Dabirsim {Fr}) reappears for Ecurie Normandie Pur Sang and Fabrice Chappet, having created a big impression when winning the Listed Criterium du Languedoc at Toulouse in...

Chantilly plays host to the G3 Prix Texanita on Wednesday, with the domestic 3-year-old sprinters having their say over the six-furlong strip. Al Shaqab Racing's Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) reverts to this trip for the first time, having shown smart juvenile form over a furlong further when a short-head runner-up to Kenway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the G3 Prix la Rochette at ParisLongchamp in September and third in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud the following month. He faces Guy Pariente's Wanaway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) who captured the...