France Galop

Cherie Amour (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}) makes all at Clairefontaine to become the first winner for her Haras de Bouquetot-based freshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}). 3rd-Clairefontaine, €22,000, Mdn, 6-4, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.80, sf. CHERIE AMOUR (FR) (f, 2, Shalaa {Ire}--Angel Falls {GB}, by Kingmambo), a May 21 third-of-four contesting a five-furlong newcomers' test at Deauville last time, was sharpest from the gates and seized immediate control of this return. In command throughout, the 13-10 pick was bustled along when tackled by Chiri Tsubaki (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) passing the quarter-mile...

Whereas the Poulains was a clear-cut affair, Deauville's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches provided a stirring climax as Haras du Logis Saint Germain's homebred Dream and Do (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) inched out Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in a frantic bobbing finish. Demonstrating her worth in this league when runner-up to Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the G3 Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp last time May 11, Dream and Do and Maxime Guyon were on the front foot from the outset in this Classic gifted...

After all the worry and uncertainty of the past few weeks, the first of the European Classics to be staged in the time of COVID-19 provided a reassuring outcome as Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) made class tell over the straight mile at Deauville. As it was before the huge disruption wrought by the virus, so it remains at least in this sphere with the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner confirming the form of the Arc card's juvenile highlight to regain the winning thread in Monday's G1...

One dozen fillies have been declared for Monday's €300,000 G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Deauville. Leading trainer Andre Fabre is doubly represented, with MGSW G1 Cheveley Park S. third Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) allocated stall six and Tickle Me Green (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) drawn in ten.

Nine colts will go postward for Monday's €360,000 G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Deauville. Godolphin's Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) is one of three nominations from the Andre Fabre stable and has drawn stall two for the straight one-mile test. Stablemates Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and Arapaho (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) are housed alongside and will exit gates three and one, respectively.

The G1 French 2000 Guineas and G1 French 1000 Guineas were moved to Deauville on June 1 instead of ParisLongchamp, as French racing undergoes a venue shuffle following the news that racing has been called off in France's red zone on Tuesday due to coronavirus restrictions, France Galop announced on Wednesday evening. Both 1600-metre Classics will be contested over a straight course. The complete schedule for French racing from May 25th-June 1st was also released, with the May 31 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly also slated for Deauville. Below are...

After eight days of racing behind closed doors since resuming on May 11, racing has once again been called off in France's 'red zone' areas--Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est and Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, which comprise Paris and its surrounding areas--with a government decree expected to be published in the coming days specifying that racing can continue in the country's 'green zones,' but not the red. The meetings affected over the next week are ParisLongchamp (Thursday and Sunday), Strasbourg (Thursday), Fontainebleau and Compiegne (Friday), Saint-Cloud (Monday) and Auteuil (Tuesday). Other courses in red zones include...

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...

French President Emmanuel Macron has greenlit the May 11 resumption of racing in France behind closed doors, France Galop and LeTROT jointly announced Saturday morning. France Galop, LeTROT and the National Federation of horse racing received the government authorities definitive approval for the resumption of racing in France from May 11, in accordance with the program established by the racing authorities. The news came after France Galop and Le TROT had spent Friday negotiating with the government, releasing a joint press release late Friday evening. There had been rumors of...

Despite rumblings of growing uncertainty regarding the resumption of French racing on May 11, France Galop announced that the meetings were still greenlit as of late Friday evening in France. France has not conducted racing since Mar. 17 due to the coronavirus. The statement read: "Since this morning, some alarmist reports have been circulating regarding the resumption of racing on 11 May in France, which have given racing professionals rise to legitimate concern. France Galop and LeTROT have worked tirelessly throughout the day to continue to convince the parties concerned...

With racing set to resume in France on Monday, France Galop has announced adjusted prize-money allocations for the remainder of 2020. In a bid to preserve the country's grassroots racing, there will be no reductions in the purses for PMH races run in the provinces for €15,000 or less, or for races in the Paris area which previously had a value of €19,000 or less. The most swingeing cuts come at Group 1 level on the Flat, with those races being reduced in value by 40%. All other group and...

The French racing community received good news on Monday, with the confirmation that racing will be authorised in Paris on May 11. Paris had been declared a "red zone" under the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in France, but France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild tweeted the positive news on Monday morning. "We obtained and received from the Prefecture de Police de Paris the authorisation to resume racing on May 11," de Rothschild tweeted. "This is very good news and a real victory!" The French government had earlier announced its support of...