April, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rock Of Gibraltar’s Big Rock Rallies For Prix La Force Triumph

Yeguada Centurion's 3-year-old colt Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}–Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who failed to nose ahead in each of his first three outings, graduated in a Feb. 2 handicap at Chantilly and repeated the dose back there in last month's Mar. 3 Listed Prix Maurice Caillault. Sent forward for a sterner test in Sunday's G3 Prix La Force at ParisLongchamp, he dented a host of lofty reputations with a game performance in the nine-furlong French Derby trial to register a career high. Big Rock was swiftly into stride from the inside stall and dictated proceedings on the front end for the most part. Scrubbed along when headed by 'TDN Rising Star' Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) passing the quarter-mile marker, the 19-5 chance rallied gamely to reclaim control approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly in the latter stages to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths. Ballydoyle raider Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) ran on with gusto inside the final quarter-mile to finish a head adrift of Padishakh at the line.

“It was our intention to take advantage of his inside draw,” revealed trainer Christopher Head. “We knew his ability on the all-weather, but there was a question mark about the turf. We didn't want to complicate matters, so making the running was the sensible option and he handled everything with aplomb. He has that ability to set a lively pace and still find an extra gear, which is what you expect from a good horse. Evidently, the [June 4 G1] Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly] is the target, but he is not a horse to remain two months without a race. As long as he is well, he will have one more run before the French Derby. Which one has not yet been decided and we will discuss his programme with the owner.”

Pedigree Notes:

Big Rock is the first foal of two foals produced by an unraced daughter of G3 Silver Flash S. victrix and G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Harasiya (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself a half-sister to five black-type performers headed by G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The February-foaled dark bay, half to a 2-year-old colt by Ten Sovereigns (Ire), is from the family of last term's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares victrix and G1 Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), MG1SW G1 Irish Derby hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares winner Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA FORCE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-9, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:49.63, g/s.
1–BIG ROCK (FR), 128, c, 3, by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
1st Dam: Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Harasiya (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Hazariya (Ire), by Xaar (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, €94,650. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Padishakh (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Penny Lane (Ger), by Lord Of England (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€130,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL & Ecurie de Montlahuc (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €16,000.
3–Greenland (Ire), 128, c, 3, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Aktoria (Fr), by Canford Cliffs (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (160,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 300,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-SCEA Marmion & Alain Jathiere (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 2HF, HD, 1HF. Odds: 3.80, 1.70, 11.00.
Also Ran: Rashford (Fr), Horizon Dore (Fr), Birr Castle (Fr), Zalamo (Fr), Duc De Kent (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Simca Mille Back In Style

Returning from a break having failed to make an impact in the G1 Japan Cup, Haras de la Perelle and Stephane Wattel's Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}-Swertia {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) again demonstrated his love of ParisLongchamp by winning Sunday's G2 Prix d'Harcourt. Impressive in the G2 Prix Niel here in September, having finished second to Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over that same mile-and-a-half course and distance in July, the 7-1 shot was positioned close to the early pace by Alexis Pouchin dropping back in trip. In front at the top of the 2 1/2-furlong straight, he stayed on strongly as the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) put up a spirited chase and had 3/4 of a length to spare at the line over that rival, who was giving away two pounds. Al Shaqab Racing's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano scorer and Arc fourth Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) was disappointing as the 4-5 favourite, beaten four lengths in fourth.

“I had hoped we could leave Japan behind us, but there was some concern,” trainer Stephane Wattel said. “I still don't have a clue what happened there-I believed he had a good chance, but he was beaten four out and I kept questioning myself as to whether or not I had done something wrong. He was training well for this return, but I didn't know if he still wanted to fight so he gave us the perfect answer. We were lucky to have good ground and a good pace and the shorter trip didn't prove a problem. He is good. Period. We will be back for the Ganay.”

Iresine's handler Jean-Pierre Gauvin is keen on a rematch in the course-and-distance feature in three weeks' time, which is set to feature the returning Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). “It was a great performance for a comeback, giving weight,” he said. “He runs superbly well at Longchamp, whatever the distance or the ground so if he is well he will return for the Ganay.”

Pedigree Notes
Simca Mille, who was also successful in Chantilly's G3 Prix du Lys last term, is the first foal out of Swertia, a daughter of The Aga Khan's G3 Prix de Conde, G3 Prix Penelope and G3 Prix Cleopatre-placed Sanjida (Ire) (Polish Precedent). Among Sanjida's half-siblings is the G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G1 Prix Saint-Alary-winning champion Sarafina (Fr) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of the G3 Prix d'Aumale scorer Savarin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and her G3 Prix Messidor-winning full-brother Geniale (Jpn). Swertia's 2-year-old filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire) is named Slawena (GB).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX D'HARCOURT-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-9, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:03.39, g/s.
1–SIMCA MILLE (IRE), 128, c, 4, by Tamayuz (GB)
1st Dam: Swertia (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Sanjida (Ire), by Polish Precedent
3rd Dam: Sanariya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
(€68,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Haras de la Perelle & Stephane Wattel; B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Stephane Wattel; J-Alexis Pouchin. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 11-5-4-0, €368,160. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Iresine (Fr), 130, g, 6, Manduro (Ger)–Inanga (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). (€6,000 Ylg '18 ARQOCT). O-Bertrand Milliere, Ecurie Jean-Paul Gauvin, Christian Goutelle et al; B-P Joyaux & Bnne M-L Van Dedem (FR); T-Jean-Pierre Gauvin. €28,600.
3–Kertez (GB), 126, g, 5, Intello (Ger)–Distortion (GB), by Distorted Humor. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, 2. Odds: 7.30, 4.20, 13.00.
Also Ran: Al Hakeem (GB), Haya Zark (Fr), Alter Adler (Ger), Calgary (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Frankel Filly Excites at ParisLongchamp

As the only inexperienced member of the line-up for Sunday's G3 Prix Vanteaux, Al Shira'aa Farms' Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Sophie Germain {Ire}, by Indian Ridge {Ire}) had her work cut out but after her command performance in ParisLongchamp's Classic pointer all were left pondering where her considerable talent will take her. Off the mark in professional if not flashy fashion over a mile at Chantilly in September, the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained half-sister to the G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) was nevertheless not missed in the market as the 5-2 second favourite for the nine-furlong test. Racing under early restraint early from Christophe Soumillon with one behind, the bay who was a €650,000 Goffs Orby purchase made her move wide in early straight and struck the front 300 metres out en route to a comfortable 1 3/4-length success from Sea The Lady (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).

“She is a very nice filly and considering what she does in the mornings, it was not a problem for me to run her in this group race on only her second career start,” Laffon Parias explained. “She has the speed for a race like the [G3] Prix de la Grotte next week, but I made the choice of this one thinking that it would be easier. She settled well in a race with a good rhythm and showed us all her quality in the straight. Now it looks like the [G1 Prix] Saint Alary and the [G1 Prix de] Diane, but an alternative is the [G1] Poule d'Essai [des Pouliches] and the Diane.”

Pedigree Notes
Jannah Rose, who becomes the 78th group winner for her sire, is out of the unraced Sophie Germain whose aforementioned daughter Creggs Pipes improved beyond all recognition from three to five years of age and also captured the Listed Cairn Rouge S. as well as placing in the G3 Fairy Bridge S. and G3 Blue Wind S. Also responsible for the listed-placed Silver Spear (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), Sophie Germain is a daughter of the G1 Oaks d'Italia heroine Hydrion (Critique) from the family of the GI Breeders' Futurity hero and G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Square Eddie (Smart Strike) and the GI Personal Ensign H. heroine Pompeii (Broad Brush). Next up from the dam is a 2-year-old filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire) who was bought by David Redvers for €280,000 at the most recent Goffs Orby.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX VANTEAUX-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-9, 3yo, f, 9fT, 1:49.74, g/s.
1–JANNAH ROSE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sophie Germain (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
2nd Dam: Nydrion, by Critique
3rd Dam: Nabila, by Foolish Pleasure
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE WIN; 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (€650,000 Ylg '21 GOFORB). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-J Hayes (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-4-0, €368,160. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sea The Lady (Fr), 126, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Blumenfee (Ger), by Soldier Hollow (GB).
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Avatara SA & Haras d'Etreham; B-Avatara SA (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €16,000.
3–Around Midnight (Fr), 126, f, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Artifix (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). O-Ecurie Billon, Ecurie Taos, Mandalore Racing Stable SAS & Normandie Breeding; B-Mme Camille Vitse & Ecurie Taos (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 2.50, 5.80, 2.20.
Also Ran: Mqse De Maintenon (Ire), Khahira (Fr), Sparkling Beauty (Fr), Delightful (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Research: Hard Footing Increases Risk Of Muculoskeletal Injury In Harness Horses

A study completed by researchers from the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort in Maisons-Alfort and the INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research) has found an association between horses training on hard footing and musculoskeletal injuries.

The study used 12 healthy trotting horses and followed them through four months of race training. The horses were paired depending on size and weight; one horse trained on a track with hard footing and the other trained on a softer surface.

All of the horses had a battery of diagnostic imaging done before the study and at two and four months into the training. These modalities included radiographs, ultrasounds, nuclear scintigraphy, and MRI.

In total, 46 lesions were identified and considered clinically relevant, meaning they could cause lameness or poor performance. Eighteen of the lesions were classified as moderate to severe.

Fifteen of the 18 moderate to severe lesions were in horses training over the harder track surface.

The scientists also found lesions on the superficial digital flexor tendons on three of the six horses trained on the harder surface; no SDFT lesions were found on the horses training on the soft track. Horses training on the harder track also had more fetlock injuries.

The scientists concluded that the firmness of the track surface is a risk factor for harness horses in training. Working on a hard surface can lead to musculoskeletal injuries.