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 Friday 5th March 2010, Deauville.(www.leblogdeparisturf.com) “I achieved five winners on a card once before, but it was a long time ago, at Pau, over jumps. That’s even harder than on the flat,” confided Jean-Claude Rouget after the cosy victory of Bellinissimo (Hawk Wing), carrying his own colours, in the €33,000 Prix de Meydan (4yo+ - 1,900m Fibresand). “Today, I knew that I had a good bunch of horses that were ready to run and I expected to have a good day. But it is a long journey for us to come to Deauville, both for the horses and the lads. These wins make it all worthwhile. I will now aim Bellinissimo at some principal races but we will take out time and let him mature more. He is a horse that I love. He is brave and has a lovely action.” Bellinissimo passed through the ring at the Arc Sale last October where Jean-Claude Rouget bought him back for €45,000 (click here for catalogue page).
Yet the horse was not ridden by stable jockey Ioritz Mendizabal, who was kicked on the thigh in the paddock after the first race and had to be replaced by fellow rider Franck Blondel. The latter scored a four-timer, including the 4 wins he registered with Rouget's rockets. Mendizabal's injury is only superficial and he's due back on the saddle in 8 days.
As for Rouget, he scored twioce a 5-timer : in 1985 with jumpers at Pau, and five years later on the flat at La Teste.
Alderney – Countess Lemonade makes her mark
Countess Lemonade (Storm Cat) is not a filly like any other. If the fact that she is a sister of the champion Duke of Marmalade wasn’t enough to attract attention she managed to go one step further in the parade ring before her debut in the €24,000 Prix d'Alderney (3yo Fillies-1,500m Fibresand). Spooked by her first experience on a racecourse she kicked her jockey Ioritz Mendizabal, who was taken to hospital with an injury to his thigh muscle that required stitches. Dominique Bœuf stepped into the breach. She was deemed by the stewards to have caused interference when she was asked for an effort in the finish in order to overtake stable companion Our Georgia (Pulpit), which resulted in her being demoted to sixth place. Jean-Claude Rouget, whose two other runners had finished second and third, explained: “The three fillies all work together in the mornings. Countess Lemonade is the most babyish of the three, as she was prepared late, and I probably should have waited another 2 or 3 weeks for her first run. I think all three fillies will achieve black type.
Our Georgia, the winner after the inquiry, is a sister of US Ranger, placed second in the July Cup (Gr1).
Saint Valery – Lola Montes puts Blondel to the test
After an average first start on the grass at Cagnes sur Mer, Lola Montes (Mr Greeley) won on her first attempt on fibresand in the €24,000 Prix de Saint-Valéry (3yo Fillies-1,500m Fibresand). In a race that was led by Pearl Argyle (Oasis Dream), who was still some lengths ahead coming off the final bend, Jean-Claude Rouget’s representative produced a nice turn of foot to win by two lengths from Pearl Argyle with Pax Mina (Keltos) back in third. “She is a difficult filly, and I was not sure that she would win, explained her trainer. “She even dropped Franck Blondel on the way to the start. She is better on the fibresand than she was on the soft ground at Cagnes. But she is still quite backward and immature, and will improve from this run.” Lola Montes was bought at Arqana in August 2008 for €60,000 (click here for catalogue page).
Bacqueville – Dibir doesn’t dissapoint
Dibir (Shamardal) continued the winning streak of Jean-Claude Rouget when succesful in the €24,000 Prix de Bacqueville (3yo Males-1,500m Fibresand). Having tracked Singapore Sky (Sagacity) who led the way, the mount of Franck Blondel made the difference in the straight without having to exert himself. Dibir is a son of Diasilixa (Linamix), winner of the Prix Royaumont (Gr3), who has already produced Dixie Girl (Green Desert), also a winner on the fibresand at Deauville. Diasilixa is a sister of Diamond Mix (Prix Greffulhe, Gr2, and third in the Grand Prix de Paris, Gr1).
Aurigny – And Acapulco Gold makes five
Already a winner of an Afasec race (unofficial educational races for young apprentices having their first rides), Acapulco Gold (Azamour) was successful once more in the €24,000 Prix d'Aurigny (3yo Males-1,500m Fibresand). Quickly away under Franck Blondel, he led the field at a moderate pace and was the first to kick for home. Jean-Claude Rouget, who was also third with Smart Game (Smart Strike), sa id after the race; “I think that it was the way the race was run that gave him the advantage. Maybe if Smart Game had been in front he would have been the winner. However Smart Game did carry his tail quite high du ring the race so we will check to see if he has a back problem.”
Acapulco Gold was bought at the Breeze Ups in May 2009, for €160,000 (click here for catalogue page). He was presented by the same consignor, Mocklershill, as Dubawi Junior (Dubawi), an impressive winner at Cagnes (before injury), who was the top price of the sale. His dam, El Rabab (Roberto), has already produced Muntej (Muhtarram), Gr2 winner in Canada, and Filfilah, dam of Baqah (Prix de Sandringham, Gr2).
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