Welcome back to Week Five of the French Racing Diary after a phenomenal recent run of winning tips for the website.

 

Unraced 11yo makes Deauville debut

A few eyebrows were raised on Sunday as an 11-year-old daughter of Turgeon, Caprice de Star, made her racecourse debut in a Classe 2 event. Sent off a 63-1, the grey mare was already out of shot after 14 seconds!

Trainer Bruce Mercken has only recently come up on the scene with seemingly his first two runners this month. His first runner, Passion Intense, was making her racecourse debut as a six-year-old in a similar event, and collected €867 for coming last of six.

 

Shockwaves through Calas

The Calas training centre will take some time to recover its reputation following the Rossi arrests last week. Some of the stars have already been dispersed and the big winners (if there are any!) in this affair look set to be Jerome Reynier and Francis-Henri Graffard.

Graffard picks up 2021 Champion Stakes winner Sealiway, Skazino stays locally with Richard Chotard and smart juvenile Mangoustine is rumoured to be heading to Mikel Delzangles.

Remember, Graffard will also be picking up Alain de Royer-Dupré’s stars in 2022.

 

Proper handicap form

Races like the Cambridgeshire and Lincoln in the UK often throw up future stakes performers, but horses rarely make the transition from Quinté handicaps in France.

Sure, Sagamiyra won a Quinté on Monday 19 April, but she came in having won her last three and was bred by the Aga Khan. Other examples are rare.

How about this Quinté from Longchamp?

Amilcar won the Listed Prix Luthier at Deauville with ease last weekend and the second, Elusive Foot, continued Jerome Reynier’s fine run with a Classe 2 win.

It pays to follow the form from these ‘Super Quintés’, worth €70,000 rather than €50,000.

 

Meydan Raiders

As reported in Jour de Galop recently, France’s best hopes for the Dubai Carnival appear to be Bellharbour Music, Air de Valse, Wild Majestic and Integrant.

Air De Valse has an erratic profile and flopped in Qatar, which makes me think that Integrant is the only one worth following. The Frankel colt has raced just six times and was thought smart enough last spring to be given an Arc entry.

Meanwhile, Grand Glory stays with her trainer Gianluca Bietolini for a few months to target the Saudi Cup for new connections.

 

Pau Stable Tours

Anyone betting at Pau this month might benefit from Equidia’s extensive stable tours, available here: https://www.equidia.fr/articles/reportage/meeting-de-pau-2021-2022-11-entraineurs-nous-donnent-leurs-gagnants.

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