Not withstanding Grassy’s threads re novice and juvenile animals for the forthcoming season proper, these are a few pieces of info posted by Jay from Final Flight Publications on Twitter re various French horses being sold to race in the UK.or Ireland which I’ve tidied up a bit to make them a bit more readable on here.
First is Apple's Shakira,who's a 3yo full sister to Apple's Jade. The filly ran just once in France and won it very well. being the exact race Apple's Jade won 2 years prior, very likely she'll be campaigned just like her sister in juvenile division over here. Probably gone to W.P.Mullins.
Next is Azua Emery, a 3yo filly who ran once in France in a bumper at Saumur over 2 miles, where she finished an encouraging second. The filly shares same sire and breeder as Cilaos Emery. With W.P.Mullins often recruiting horses with a similar profile to his successes, could be with him.
Chante Neige, the 3yo daughter of Martaline who ran once in France at Auteuil finishing 3rd. She was trained by the master Guillaume Macaire. Chante Neige ran with lots of promise on debut, jumped superb (will be a future chaser) and was beaten by two smart fillies on the day. A top prospect.Chante Neige has moved to Ireland. Mullins has bought 2 from Macaire fairly recently (Annamix & Burrows Saint), so a chance she's gone to WM.
Delire d'Estruval has now moved to Ben Pauling and is owned by Munir & Souede. Delire d'Estruval, was last seen motoring home at Auteuil to finish a very strong finishing runner up. The 4yo ran 3 times over hurdles in France and twice over fences. However, a note of caution. The winner set a very strong pace in race so was always going to susceptible to a runner up finishing like that.
Desiremoi d'Authie,the 4yo ran once in an AQPS flat race in the provinces. The son of Cachet Noir proved a class apart winning easily. Desiremoi d'Authie now moved to UK,the quality of the field he beat was average, but he won easily and it was only his debut. Could be smart.
Dissavril,a 4yo ran twice in France ,both were AQPS flat races. She finished 4th on an encouraging debut and 2nd next time out 4 months later running second to a top prospect who'd have provided a form boost next time out had he sadly not gone wrong at end of race. Dissavril has now moved to the UK. The daughter of Balko has shown plenty of potential and should improve going jumping, is a nice prospect.
Potensis now own the Mullins French mare Holiday Winner. Sullivan is backing Willie significantly it seems! The 4yo was a €110k purchase.
Now confirmed on HRI that Real Steel is owned by Jared Sullivan(Potensis) and will therefore be with Mullins.Real Steel finished 5th,2nd & 7th in his flat races, which were in 2016. He didn't achieve much on the level, but his 2nd was to Divin Bere. An exciting novice hurdler! Real Steel made a superb hurdling debut at Compiegne, where he finished a close runner up to Izzo, who has more than franked the form since The fact Real Steel came second was a positive as it means he's still a novice hurdler, Real Steel looks the type who needs 2m 4f or above.
Interesting to see Lac Kivu's owner has a new horse in Ireland ,assume he's with Willie too. He's a 4yo unraced FR horse now called Imperial Grey.
Next is Risk and Roll, the 3yo gelding ran once in France at Auteuil in a listed hurdle race where he came 4th. He was trained by Gallorini. Risk and Roll made an encouraging debut, took well to jumping for most part, stayed on well at end but did not have speed to win over 1m 6f. As far as I'm aware, Risk and Roll now moved to Paul Nicholls (not definite). Last year, Nicholls also recruited Dolos from the exact race.
Pageburg, the 3yo ran once in FR, which was an AW race on flat. The son of Sageburg won very nicely on debut. Pageburg should make a smart juvenile hurdler. Providing he can stay the distance, he could be very hard to peg back with his turn of foot. Pageburg is now owned by Munir & Souede, and is in training with Alan King.