Jean-Claude Rouget | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bated Breath’s Makaloun Annexes The Prix de Guiche

His Highness The Aga Khan's Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) suffered the only reverse of a five-race freshman campaign when a close third over 10 furlongs in a hot renewal of October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and bounced back in style to garner Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, dropping down in trip on seasonal return, at Chantilly. Last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and G3 Prix de Conde victor went postward as the 23-10 second choice–for a heat won by Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in recent years–and slipstreamed stablemate Veldeni (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) from flagfall in this nine-furlong test. Seizing an opportunity as Veldeni ghosted away from the inner and offered an open seam along the far-side rail into the straight, he bounded to the front soon after turning for home and kept on powerfully under mild rousting inside the final quarter mile to withstand the dual late threat of Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Listed Prix Maurice Caillault victor Fort Payne (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) by a half length and a short neck for a third black-type success.

“That was perfect teamwork, the pacemaker [Veldeni] did a super job and Makaloun had the most perfect reintroduction,” said winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “He quickened nicely, he was not finished at the end and didn't have a hard race. I saw what I wanted to see. With [undefeated Listed Prix de Suresnes winner] Saiydabad, we now have two potential runners for the [June 6 G1] Prix du Jockey Club and, personally, I would like to run both. However, we'll discuss it with His Highness and the entourage to see where we go from here.”

Makaloun is the latest of four foals and one of three winners from as many runners out of a dual-winning half-sister to Listed Prix Omnium II victor Markazi (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The May-foaled homebred's fourth dam Mariyada (Diesis {GB}), from the immediate family of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Riverqueen (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}), is kin to G3 Prix d'Hedouville winner and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Malakim (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and also to the granddam of Listed Fleur de Lys S. victress Mayonga (Ire) (Dr Fong).

Tuesday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 5-11, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:53.11, g/s.
1–MAKALOUN (FR), 128, c, 3, by Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: Makana (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Marasima (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Miralaya (Ire), by Shernazar (Ire)
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, €158,870. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Millebosc (Fr), 128, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Mixed Intention (Ire), by Elusive City. O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Stephanie Nigge. €16,000.
3–Fort Payne (Fr), 128, c, 3, Rio de la Plata–Lady Verde (Fr), by Meshaheer. O-Alain Jathiere, Mme Philippe Demercastel & Nicolas Caullery; B-Mme Philippe Demercastel (FR); T-Nicolas Caullery. €12,000.
Margins: HF, SNK, 2. Odds: 2.30, 6.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Adhamo (Ire), Darkness (Fr), Veldeni (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Polish Champion Relocates To France

Inter Royal Lady (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), champion of her generation in Poland in 2019 and 2020, will continue her career in France under the care of Arc-winning conditioner Jean-Claude Rouget, according to information on the France Galop website.

The daughter of Fearn Royal (Ire) (Ali-Royal {Ire}) was perfect and untested in six juvenile appearances and ran her overall winning streak to nine before tasting defeat for the first time when beaten a half-length by Night Thunder (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Westminster Derby (2400 metres) at Sluzewiec Racecourse in Warsaw last July.

Inter Royal Lady returned to winning ways with a 3/4-length success in the Nagroda Liry (Polish Oaks) the following month (see below) and was given big-race entries for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, won by the Rouget-trained Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), and the G1 Prix de l'Opera. She was ultimately allowed to take her chance against the likes of next-out Breeders' Cup winners Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the Opera, and while never likely over the unsuitably soft ground, Inter Royal Lady finished a respectable eighth of the 12 runners, beaten just over six lengths.

Bred by Fergus Cousins, Inter Royal Lady was bought back on a bid of €22,000 when offered as a weanling at Goffs in November 2017. She was subsequently knocked down to Bobby O'Ryan, agent for owner Slawomir Pegza, from the Ballybin Stud draft at the 2018 Goffs Sportsman's sale and was trained in Poland by Adam Wyrzyk.

WATCH: Inter Royal Lady wins the 2020 Nagroda Liry (Polish Oaks)

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Arc Hero Sottsass Retired to Coolmore Stud

2020 G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}-Starlet’s Sister {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) has been retired and will take up stallion duties at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, owner Peter Brant announced on Tuesday. A colourbearer for Brant’s White Birch Farm initially with Coolmore buying a 50% interest earlier this year, the 2019 French highweight’s fee will be announced later.

“A world champion at three and now an Arc winner at four, I have decided to retire Sottsass after what he has achieved,” said Brant. “He has retired sound and right at the top of his game–this is important to me. I am looking forward to breeding some of my best mares to him. Coolmore purchased 50% of him earlier in the year and he will stand there for 2021.”

Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux in France, the chestnut was knocked down for €340,000 at the 2017 Arqana August Yearling Sale on the bid of Michel Zerolo’s Oceanic Bloodstock for Brant. Put into training with Jean-Claude Rouget, Sottsass broke his maiden at second asking at Clairefontaine and captured the Listed Prix de Suresnes in his second run at three. In only his fifth career start, Sottsass defeated that year’s G1 French Guineas hero Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, setting a new race record last June. The chestnut added a win in the G2 Prix Niel that September, and was a very good third in the 2019 Arc.

Besides his swansong at ParisLongchamp in 2020, Sottsass also captured the G1 Prix Ganay this term and was a close second in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron. He retires with a mark of 12-6-1-1 and $3,900,437 in earnings.

“Back in 1971, I was working on a film in Paris and was lucky enough to witness Mill Reef win his Arc,” Brant added. “I think it is the ultimate race to win and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have fulfilled a lifelong dream. Sottsass has an incredible turn of foot as he showed when readily disposing of Persian King in the Prix du Jockey Club. He smashed the race record time and knocked nearly a second off the 1m 2 1/2f track record at Chantilly previously held by dual Arc winner Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). We were concerned that the testing conditions on Sunday might blunt his speed but he overcame them and showed his true greatness.

“Being a half-brother to Sistercharlie who had run second for us in the Prix de Diane, Sottsass was always going to be of interest to us as a yearling and we were delighted when the individual matched up to his pedigree. Being by France’s leading sire Siyouni and out of a daughter of Galileo only added to his appeal. The rest as they say is history as Sistercharlie has gone on to win seven Grade I races in the USA for Chad Brown and Sottsass has proved himself the ultimate champion.

“Jean-Claude Rouget has done a masterful job with Sottsass and it gave me great pleasure to share in his first Arc success.”

Said Rouget, “He’s a good looking horse with a good temperament, a classy horse and goes to stud in the best way after a great win in the Arc. The decision has been made now as they want to protect him for a stallion career and I think it was best not to go to the Breeders’ Cup as the track would have been too sharp for him. He is quite a big horse with a big action. It would have been a risk.”

Added the trainer of the colt’s early career, “I go slowly with my horses. He was promising after he had a bad trip first time out. He won his second race easily. He had a bad race first time out at three and, after he won his listed race easily, he won the Prix du Jockey Club. The Arc was the target this year. It was not easy with COVID-19 to do good planning, but we do it and we did well. I am very happy for him not to run again. He was a very courageous horse.”

The third consecutive group winner and third foal out of Starlet’s Sister, Sottsass follows on the hooves of Eclipse Champion Turf Female Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), who counts a GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf laurel amongst her seven Grade I wins and played bridesmaid in the 2017 G1 Prix de Diane. Rounding out the trio of GSWs for Starlet’s Sister is My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), a GSW in both France and America, who races for Brant. Sottsass is also a half-brother to the 2020 Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale topper, a €2,500,000 filly by Dubawi (Ire) purchased by Oliver St Lawrence, as well as €400,000 Arqana August yearling Radiant Child (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) who is three and a Fastnet Rock (Aus) juvenile colt who went for €700,000 to David Redvers at the same sale in 2019.

Out of GI Del Mar Oaks third Premiere Creation (Fr) (Green Tune), Starlet’s Sister is a full-sister to G3 Prix Cleopatre heroine Leo’s Starlet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a half-sister to SW and MG1SP Anabaa’s Creation (Ire) (Anabaa). Farther back in the pedigree are champions Noalcoholic (Fr) (Nonoalco) and Leonnatus Anteas (Stormy Atlantic).

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Sottsass Gives Brant Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe Victory; Enable Sixth

Peter Brant's return to Thoroughbred racing and breeding in 2016 after a nearly 25-year hiatus hit its pinnacle on Sunday with a victory by Sottsass in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The 4-year-old colt by the French stallion Siyouni, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden to victory by Cristian Demuro, had no trouble with the heavy ground at ParisLongchamp, defeating In Swoop and pace-setting Persian King in the 12-furlong European classic for 3-year-olds and up.

Juddmonte Farms Enable finished sixth in her bid for a record third Arc de Triomphe victory, Jockey Frankie Dettori said of the John Gosden runner: “She hated that ground. I knew my fate at the 400.”

The victory was the first in the Arc de Triomphe for Brant, Demuro and Rouget.

Sottsass was prominent from the outset, saving ground inside of Chachnak as Persian King established the pace. In Swoop raced just behind Sottsass, alongside Enable. There was little change in the running until the field of 11 runners reached the stretch run.

Persian King was well off the rail giving Demuro an option to go inside or outside of the front-runner. He chose to swing Sottsass to the outside for his run while In Swoop and jockey Ronan Thomas took the inside route. Sottsass hit the front with 200 meters to run, but In Swoop was inching forwardly when they reached the winning post.

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was one of five Group 1 races that were Breeders' Cup Challenge Series events at ParisLongchamp, giving the winners fees-paid berths to the world championship races to be held this year at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., Nov. 6-7. The connections of the winners also receive $40,000 in travel allowances.

The victory by Sottsass gives him a fees-paid spot in the starting gate for the Turf. Other Group 1 Win and You're In Challenge Series races saw Tiger Tanaka win the Prix Marcel Boussac, giving her a berth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf; Sealiway win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, giving him a berth in the Juvenile Turf; Wooded win the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, giving him a berth in the Turf Sprint; and Tarnawa win the Prix de l'Opera, giving her a berth in the Filly & Mare Turf.

Enable, who won the 2017-'18 renewals of the Arc (and finished second in 2019) became the first horse to win both the Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup Turf in the same year when she accomplished the feat in 2018.

Peter Brant at Belmont Park

Sottsass, who came into this year's Arc off a fourth-place finish behind Magical in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in Ireland on Sept. 12, had finished third behind Waldgeist in the 2019 Arc after earlier in the year winning the G1 French Derby and G2 Prix Niel. The French-bred colt was champion 3-year-old of 2019.

Out of the Galileo mare Starlet's Sister, Sottsass is a half-sister to Brant's American champion Sistercharlie (by Myboycharlie), who gave the owner his first G1 victory after being away from the game for so long when taking the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland in 2018. Brant's horses in the U.S. are trained by Chad Brown.

Brant came back with a splash when he made the decision to return to racing, focusing heavily on broodmares but also buying weanlings and yearlings at both European and American bloodstock auctions. He spent $10 million in 2016 and doubled that investment the following year. Among his yearling purchases in 2017 was Sottass, bred by Ecurie Des Monceaux and purchased for 340,000 euros at the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

In a 2018 interview with the Paulick Report, Brant – who had campaigned such champions as Waya, Just a Game and Gulch in the late 1970s and '80s – spoke about how alliances and partnerships had become an important element in the current iteration of the Thoroughbred industry. As such, earlier this year he sold half-interest in Sottsass to Coolmore, where the Arc winner presumably will stand upon his retirement.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the general public was unable to attend the races at ParisLongchamp. Brant, presumably watched his colt win one of the world's most prestigious races from his home in the U.S.

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