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Tuesday, 08 September 2009 06:26 |
Sept. 7th, Craon. It was the third and last ay of the "Glorious Three" meeting in the French western countryside where trotting mixes with flat, jumps and cross-country in the French horse county, writes Le Frog.
Los Cristianos (Gold Away) became the first 3 year old winner of the Défi du Galop challenge, the flat racing's response to the Tour de France, with a nice ride from Thomas Huet, first jockey to the Alain Couétil stable from now on. Back from a two and half months lay off, he sat patiently in behind the leaders in the Grand Prix de la Ville de Craon (A-2.400m). The Alain Couétil runner suddenly accelerated on the final bend and was never challenged afterwards. "I was able to benefit from a good trip", noted Thomas Huet. My horse was very relaxed and he picked up easily when I asked him. It was a bit tactical to make my move on the last turn, but I think I would have won even if I had stayed with the others..."
"He is a colt that I have always regarded highly", confided Alain Couétil to Paris-Turf. "It didn't go as planned in the Derby at Nantes (his only radical defeat to dat, last time out). The pace wasn't fast enough for him, he pulled a lot and was even struck into behind. He hasn't run again since because I couldn't find a race suitable for him, except maybe the Grand Prix de Clairefontaine (L-2,400m), but I thought that was a bit tough for his first race back. Before the race I was confident but we needed our luck to change because things haven't been going well since the start of the weekend. Normally he will reappear in the Prix Chaudenay (Gr2-3.000m), on the eve of the Arc."
Not far behind the leader, on the outside, was Stikine (Slickly), wearing blinkers for the first time, who finished well, despite having hung back towards the rail, and seized 2nd place from Redesignation (Key of Luck).
Los Cristianos belongs to a group of six associates who were brought together by Didier Schenkery with the idea of creating a syndicate yard. He is the first produce of Perspective (Funambule) who was trained all her racing career by Jean-Jacques Chiozzi, an ex jockey who is now a permit holder at Maisons-Laffitte. She won 2 races from 19 starts on the flat and over hurdles and had reached a rating of 68 by the end of her career. Her son by Take Risks was bought back for €20,000 by the Source breeding operation (Bozo family) in October 2008. He has been named El Medino and is now also in training with Alain Couétil. She has also bred a yearling by Enrique and a foal by Kingsalsa.
A rock solid green
Recent winner of a D race on the sand at Deauville, Green Rock (Green Tune) quickly climbed the ladder when inscribing his name on the list of winners' of the Critérium de l'Ouest (L-1.650m). Trained by Francois Doumen, he put an end to the 3 year reign of females in this race.
Sent quickly to the front by his jockey Thierry Thulliez, he saw off an attack from Xaarienne (Xaar), while the Aga Khan runner Kermiyan (Green Desert) advanced up the middle of the track. For a moment he was attacked from all angles but Green Rock managed to pick up again and win by a neck from Kermiyan, who was second in front of Xaarienne. "I went off in front, as he did when he won, and he showed how brave he is right to the line", announced Thierry Thulliez. "I set a good pace and he needed a breather half way up the straight but he fought back well when he was challenged. He is a colt that only had his first run 3 weeks ago and has already won a Listed race, that's a good sign."
The hot favourite, on the back of his recent win at Clairefontaine, Kermiyan couldn't live up to the expectations of his supporters. "He ran well but we were beaten by a better horse" admitted Christophe Soumillon.
The winner, bred in Brittany, was bought back for €32,000 at the August Sales in 2008 by Haras de Grandcamp. His dam was also bought back for only €14,000 last December in foal to Della Francesca although she is closely related to Red Rocks and other Listed winners (click here for her catalogue page).
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