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GOFFS
FRANCE AUTUMN MIXED SALE 2001 ... CHRISTOPHER ILES OFFERS HIS VIEW ON THE
PURCHASE OF MAGNUS
Interesting buy, Magnus. French champion jockey Christophe Pieux seemed
more than enthusiastic about him after he won on Sunday, comparing him
with Or Jack and suggesting he'd be better over fences. I wonder how quick
a learner he will be, though, as he was quite disappointing this spring
when he started out over hurdles.
A shame he doesn't get to meet Le Sauvignon (out with a slight injury this
autumn). That would have been a race worth watching.
I'll have a more thorough look at these some time soon. Two names to catch
the eye were Cerilly, who's been progressing nicely over fences this
autumn, and Hespoir d'Aurélie, who wouldn't be that far behind Magnus
over hurdles and was perhaps a better chaser, being the moral winner of
the Prix Maurice Gillois a couple of years back.
I should also put in a good word for Malhado Island, the Prix Congress
winner yesterday. Owned by the Marquesa de Moratalla, he may turn up in
England one day. He does look the best of the three year olds that have
gone chasing so far.
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Monday, 19 November 2001
GOFFS FRANCE AUTUMN MIXED SALE 2001 -
BY THE ROOK
British trainers were in evidence at yesterday's Goffs France Autumn mixed sale, and several of the purchases there will soon be making their presence felt in this country.
Martin Pipe was particularly active at the sale and it is he stole the main prize paying a record for a national hunt horse in training when he went to 3.5 million francs (£339,476) for the five--year-old Magnus, one of France's top hurdlers. Magnus formerly trained by Jacques Ortet recently picked up two important hurdles at Auteuil recently, and is definitely on the upgrade (very much in the same manner that Baracouda' progressed last term) - He is due to run in the £48,497 Prix Leon Olry-Roederer at the same track on Sunday, and may still go for that event.
That wasn't his only purchase at the sale, as he also snapped up Purtal, a winner on the flat at three, who has been placed over hurdles and fences, Marston Moor - a maiden on the flat with Criquette Head, and Quel Bon Choix, who has been placed in all his starts over hurdles in the provinces
Highflyers Bloodstock went to 1.5 million francs (£145,489) for Sud Bleu who was part of the Claude Cohen dispersal sale. The three-year-old son of Pistolet Bleu showed promise in the Prix Finot on his debut (see above), and could do well over here. Their other purchases included Khaladjistan, a three-year-old colt formerly in training with Alain de Royer Dupré and High Moon who has form over obstacles for his former trainer Jacques Ortet
Lambswool; a son of Baryshnikov will soon be joining the yard of Lavinia Taylor at upper Lambourn, who paid for 600,000 francs (£58,195) for him. He was placed on the flat when trained by Philippe Van de Poole, and is the sort of horse that Lavinia Taylor will bring along slowly
It wasn't a bad day for us either, as apart from Quel Bon Choix, the following horses from "One To Jump" - Our horses to follow feature were also purchased at the sale - almost certainly to race over here
* Horizon
* Rising Generation
* Jacquemart Colombe
* Jimmy Tennis
* King Georges
* Fidele Galopin
One look forward to seeing is Jacquemart Colombe who I've liked since seeing him at one of the previous Goffs Sales. Guillame Macaire was the buyer on that occasion, and he managed to win a couple of AQPS (non thoroughbred) races with him. I advised a friend to buy him, so the fact that Guy Petit bought him is encouraging, as he would have acted on his behalf... (I'll have to give him a call!!!)
The seven horses listed above are all capable of finding their level in this country and could (in my view) soon be winning races over here.
THE ROOK
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Friday, 16 November 2001
PRIX FINOT 2001
A rather belated look at the three divisions of the Prix Finot (21 September). This is an event for hurdling debutants and is traditionally contested by those horses whose trainers imagine they will go on to be future stars. Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winner Kotkijet became one of the latest Prix Finot graduate to achieve major success; he was pulled-up in the race on his debut.
The fillies' heat hasn't produced any obvious stars yet. The runners were, in finishing order:
Georgia On My Mind, Miss Poutine, Huit de Coeur, Miss Canon, Tanaiis, Xara, Chanel du Berlais, Royale Acadou, Dimezell Bihan, Private Bluff, Lady Carole, Grande Souveraine, Gidane, Paradana.
The first of the colts' division was run in the fastest time of the three. The first three home have gone on to compete with the best young hurdlers in the country:
Grand Match, Loup Bleu, Corri Piano, Dandy Bleu, Kerrigand, Le Roi Miguel, Sud Bleu, Velasco, Patterson, Spring Tune, Sonandi, Doux Punch, Le Serein, Si Royal.
The second division seems to have been the strongest of the three races, judging on results to date. Multipass won a Grade 2 race on his next start, but was sadly killed in the Prix Cambaceres on his next start. The runner-up
Burkhardt is also among the best 3 year olds. Of the others, Wisborough has already won:
Multipass, Buckhardt, Kim de Ray, Secret World, Symphonic Man, Still Waters, Distant Look, Santi, Napolitano, Symphodal, Royal Champagne, Wisborough, King Presse, Kurbani.
Kokitka was undoubtedly the best juvenile seen out during this half of the season, but its quite possible that one of these may alter matters during the season half of the season
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Friday, 09 November 2001
A ROUND-UP FOR THE RECENT MEETINGS AT AUTEUIL & ENGHIEN
Auteuil, 11th September
Fast ground, especially by Auteuil standards.
Race 2 - a decent 3yo hurdle. It was no real surprise to see Pussigny turned over, though I would not expect the winner,
Azulejo, to be still at the top come the end of the season. The reappearing
Giant Jumper should be capable of doing better than the fifth he managed here.
Race 3 - Master Tracy is on a roll...6 races, 4 wins, 2 falls...however his logical next step is the Prix Heros XII, up against the elite. The return of Grey Jack was a bit disappointing, and it'll be interesting to see where he goes next. At least connections have a decent replacement in the runner-up Hunter Jack. While
Astonville is looking as good over fences as over hurdles, Kimbi clearly isn't; this was his second disappointment in a row.
Race 4 - A debutants' hurdle, won in the past by Rodock. The third, the Doumen-trained
Ici Londres, had some good Flat form, and would make an interesting raider on one of the supporting races at Ascot or Kempton this December.
Race 6 - Bipbap, former winner of the Prix Maurice Gillois, became the first of a number of the injury-stricken novice chase elite of 1998 to make a winning reappearance this week. Trained by Guillaume Macaire, and unbeaten over fences except when he's gone lame, logically he could be brought over to England this winter, and may indeed become the latest grey to win the King George...though he'd have to show a bit more than this to do so. A reappearance of a more sinister sort in the same race by the deranged
Galaxie du Manoir, whose past antics put him in the same league as Havre de Thaix or the legendary lunatic Belussac - however he lacks their ability. Mirmillon, who finished last, is owned by Peter Deal (Make A Stand, Blowing Wind etc.), and could well turn up in the Pipe stable in the future. He's capable of better than he showed here - one for 2m4f handicap chases round Cheltenham?
Race 7 - a particularly decent hurdle, with many very useful horses using it as a warm-up (four possible Prix La Haye-Jousselin candidates, for instance). The winner,
Walk On Seas, isn't obviously a candidate for better things, but would be worth watching if he can maintain the form he showed here.
Auteuil , 14th September
Race 3 - Sunny Flight wins a Graded hurdle on good ground to go with the Graded chase he won on heavy this spring...certainly versatile. The runner-up
Goudenko could prove the more interesting, being younger and seeming to be progressing, and his form over fences is just as good as Sunny Flight's.
Race 4 - A very hot hurdle. The winner Line Marine
will be placed to win a stack of races at Pau this winter, assuming she doesn't prove competitive against the best. Festival Bumper fancy
Carthago ran his best race to date...perhaps a good ground horse. He'd be interesting in the Sun Alliance Hurdle come March. All the rest of the first few home -
Oudry, Royal Atalza, El Paradiso, Stormez, Ali Red
- can do well.
Race 7 - Nousha was entitled to win this, and did so...his full ability has yet to be revealed. The day Vieux Beaufai won the Grand Steeple-chase de Paris, I remember him losing 10 lengths at the start, then progressing to lead round the final turn, only to fall...
Enghien , 17th September,
An interesting steeplechase saw top-class hurdler Tiger Groom
and the decent future import Karolina going over fences for the first time. Matters did not work out: Karolina refused at the bullfinch, hampering Tiger Groom and putting him out of the race...make of it what you will...
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Thursday 20 September 2001
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