Christophe Ferland

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features siblings to Group 1 winners and offspring of Group 1 winning mares.  14.30 Deauville, Mdn, €30,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's KINDLEO (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a Christophe Ferland-trained full-brother to last term's G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Kelina (Ire)....

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a Wertheimer homebred. 18.40 Deauville, Mdn, €30,000, 2yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's PACIFISTE (FR) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), one of two homebred newcomers entered, is a son of GI American Oaks and GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Lady Of Shamrock (Scat Daddy) and...

Chantilly's Tuesday card opened with a fascinating newcomers' event and played host to a winner with considerable promise in the Wertheimers' Uther (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Sosia {Ger}, by Shamardal). A half-brother to this year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the Christophe Ferland-trained homebred sauntered in behind the early leader for Maxime Guyon enjoying perfect cover. Taking control approaching the furlong pole thanks to a sharp 10.84 penultimate split, the 8-5 favourite finished off with a finale in...

Relishing the heavy ground at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, the Wertheimers' Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}--Dancequest {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) successfully defended his crown in the feature G1 Prix Royal-Oak. Tracking the leader Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) from the break, the 13-2 shot was committed by Maxime Guyon with 300 metres remaining and stayed on strongly to deny the 23-10 favourite Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths, with Trueshan a head away in third. "I am very proud of him," trainer Christophe Ferland said. "Last year, we...

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Prix de Diane fourth Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Balladeuse {Fr}, by Singspiel {Ire}), who had dazzled with a seven-length triumph in June's G3 Prix de Royaumont, bounce back in style and surged from last to first for a second pattern-race success in Saturday's G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville. The 3-5 favourite, the lone sophomore in a seven-strong field, was tucked in behind all six rivals upon leaving the stalls and employed patient tactics racing off a sedate tempo for...

Relishing the step up to a mile and a half for the first time, the Wertheimers' blueblooded TDN Rising Star Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Balladeuse {Fr}, by Singspiel {Ire}) turned Sunday's G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly into a procession to book her ticket to the G1 Prix de Diane. Held up towards the rear early by Maxime Guyon, the Christophe Ferland-trained homebred took off when asked in the straight and after surging to the front 300 metres out hit the line with seven lengths to spare over Vigatata...

The curtain came up at Longchamp on Sunday, with the 'réouverture' being conducted in extremely testing conditions but nevertheless providing a welcome return to action at France's premier racecourse. The most important thing on arrival in the Bois de Boulogne is to make it into the track without being mown down by one or more of the cyclists within the relentless peloton that streams past the gates of Longchamp of a weekend. Everything after that feels like a blessing.  And indeed we were blessed with an almost dry and definitely...

Demonstrating a precocity that belies his title, the Wertheimers' Atlast (Fr) (Farhh {GB}--Pitamore, by More Than Ready) mastered more experienced rivals in Sunday's G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp to exit to the sound of Classic talk. Coming into the nine-furlong test with two juvenile runs at Chantilly to his name and one win over 7 1/2 furlongs on the Polytrack in October, the 11-2 shot was content to track the leaders under Maxime Guyon throughout the early stages. Sweeping to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the Christophe...

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. Monday's Observations features a brother to Grade I winner Adhamo.   18.21 Toulouse, Mdn, €21,000, 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT QUANTUM (FR) (Intello {Ger}) is the sole debutante in the line-up, but is a significant runner as a full-brother to the 2022 GI United Nations S. hero Adhamo (Ire). Related...

There was a chance beforehand that the Wertheimers' 3-year-old Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}--Dancequest {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) had an edge over his elders in Sunday's G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp, but few would have imagined how great his advantage was as he outclassed them with a vintage display. Always happy at the head of affairs under Maxime Guyon, the Christophe Ferland-trained homebred started to draw clear from the top of the straight and despite wandering around in the clear was so far in front inside the last 100...

With Europe's leading stayers either having taken part in Champions Day or roughed off for the season, Sunday's G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp has a wide-open feel with only the Wertheimers' Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) holding any kind of mystique. Successful in the track's G2 Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend, the Christophe Ferland-trained 3-year-old has considerable upside taking on established  marathon specialists in a race that has seen his age group prevail in five of the last eight renewals and three of the last four. With the likes...

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 TDN Rising Star Aventure. 12.50 Deauville, Group 3, €80,000, 2yo, f, 8fT AVENTURE (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status on her debut at Chantilly last month and takes part in this G3 Prix des Reservoirs. A Christophe Ferland-trained half-sister to the G1...