Jean-Claude Rouget | Horse Racing Free Tips

Teofilo’s Tawkeel Battles to Nonette Success

Going four-for-four when plundering June’s G1 Prix Saint-Alary over 10 furlongs at Chantilly, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) maintained her unblemished record with a battling success tackling the same trip in Saturday’s G2 Shadwell Prix de la Nontette at Deauville. The 1-2 favourite was positioned second as British raider Frankel’s Storm (GB) (Frankel {GB}) established a clear lead through halfway. Easing closer rounding the home turn, she was confronted by Tickle Me Green (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) soon after cruising to front on the bridle with 300 metres remaining and kept on resolutely under late rousting to deny that tenacious rival by a half-length. Godolphin’s Alkandora (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was best of the rest and finished a further 3/4-of-a-length back in third.

“Turning for home, it looked to me as though she was going to win as easily as she did in the Saint-Alary, but she had to fight,” admitted Jean-Claude Rouget. “I felt it was the combination of two factors as she definitely needed the race and the ground was too soft for her. I didn’t want to be too hard on her in morning work at home and, anyway, at the end she won safely and the essential has been done.” Looking ahead to a return to elite-level company, the trainer continued, “The target has always been the [Oct. 4 G1] Prix de l’Opera [at Parislongcamp] and she should be at her best for that race although I hope that the ground will not be too soft come the day.”

Winning jockey Cristian Demuro added, “I remained in the centre of the course in the backstraight and didn’t go after the pacemaker [Frankel’s Storm] because I didn’t want to do too much too early. When the other filly [Tickle Me Green] came head to head in the straight, I knew my filly would give me more. She responded well and is all class, but the [very soft] ground was definitely against her. She is very strong, mentally, and that is one of her main qualities. Nothing bothers her and, looking at her right after the race, she behaves like she has not made any effort. That is the sign of a good horse.”

Tawkeel is the first of three foals out of Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux victrix Rafaadah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself one of two foals produced by MGSW G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Joanna (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), and she is full to a yearling colt and a half to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Buhoor (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Joanna is kin to G1 Livamol Classic victor Cazals (Ire) (Aussie Rules) while Tawkeel’s fourth dam Marina Lady (Riverman) is a half to Listed Brownstown Stud S. winner Idle Affair (Try My Best), herself the dam of MGSW distaffer Idle Rich (Sky Classic) and second dam of G1 Copa de Plata heroine Alexine (Arg) (Runaway Groom). The next dam, Amenity (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}), is a full-sister to G2 Prix de Chaudenay-winning sire Ashmore (Fr).

Saturday, Deauville, France
SHADWELL PRIX DE LA NONETTE-G2, €90,000, Deauville, 8-22, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:10.10, vsf.
1–TAWKEEL (GB), 126, f, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Rafaadah (GB) (SW-Fr), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Joanna (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Secrete Marina (Ire), by Mujadil
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €51,300. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 5-5-0-0, €174,010. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tickle Me Green (Ger), 126, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Tickle Me Pink (GB), by Groom Dancer. O-Heike Bischoff-Lafrentz; B-Gestut Gorlsdorf (GER); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €19,800.
3–Alkandora (GB), 126, f, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Poplin (GB), by Medicean (GB). (85,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-D J Deer & Mrs D J Deer (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €9,450.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 0.50, 9.00, 13.00.
Also Ran: Solsticia (Ire), Auyantepui (GB), Scripturale (Fr), Frankel’s Storm (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Le Havre’s Port Guillaume Back On Song in Normandy

Claudio Marzocco, Bernard Benaych and Jean-Claude Rouget’s Port Guillaume (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) lost his unbeaten tag when a never-nearer fifth in Chantilly’s July 5 G1 Prix du Jockey Club and bounced back in style, racing in the Marzocco silks, to annex Saturday’s G2 Prix Hocquart Longines at Deauville. Unraced as a juvenile, he was an early riser this term with victories at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January and February and continued in similar vein post-lockdown with a May 12 Saint-Cloud conditions success before suffering his lone reversal last month. On the front end passing the judge first time and remaining there throughout the 12 1/2-furlong stamina test, the 7-5 favourite was nudged along soon after turning for home and stayed on strongly under mild rousting inside the final quarter mile to score by three lengths, with Ketil (Karakontie {Jpn}) edging out Pao Alto (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) by a nose for second.

“He ran a great race in the Prix du Jockey Club, but had been left with too much to do,” said trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “I didn’t want to take any chances this time and wanted a positive ride to avoid being caught in a race with no pace so that class could tell. It went as I had hoped and he is a nice colt who will now head straight to the [Sept. 13] G1 Grand Prix de Paris [at ParisLongchamp].”

Port Guillaume, the third of five foals, is one of three scorers from as many runners out of a winning full-sister to G2 Balanchine and G3 Prix de Psyche runner-up Anahita (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}) and G2 Prix de la Nonette placegetter Lakalas (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}). His dam Keira (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}), who is also a half-sister to Listed Grand Prix de Bordeaux victor Shutterbug (Fr) (Soldier of Fortune (Ire), produced last term’s Listed Prix Pelleas victor Aubevoye (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), the 2-year-old colt Portbail (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Recorder (GB). Descendants of Port Guillaume’s third dam Nasriyda (Fr) (Darshaan {GB}) include this year’s G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen victress and G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up No Limit Credit (Ger) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), with this being the immediate family of G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Natroun (Fr) (Akarad {Fr}).

Saturday, Deauville, France
PRIX HOCQUART LONGINES-G2, €90,000, Deauville, 8-8, 3yo, 12 1/2fT, 2:38.23, g/s.
1–PORT GUILLAUME (FR), 128 c, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Keira (Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire)
2nd Dam: Nazlia (Fr), by Polish Precedent
3rd Dam: Nasriyda (Fr), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€55,000 Ylg ’18 AROCT). O-Claudio Marzocco, Bernard Benaych & Jean-Claude Rouget; B-Franklin Finance SA, Mme Elisabeth Ribard & Sylvain Vidal (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €51,300. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, €115,540. *Full to Aubevoye (Fr), SW-Fr, $162,259. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ketil, 128, c, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Matroshka (Ire), by Red Ransom. (35,000gns Wlg ’17 TATFOA; €50,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, Alan Cooper & Pascal Bary; B-Matroshka Syndicate (KY); T-Pacal Bary. €19,800.
3–Pao Alto (Fr), 128, c, 3, Intello (Ger)–Peaceful Love (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB). (€160,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Wertheimer & Frere; B-La Motteraye EARL & Gerard L Ferron (FR); T-Christophe Ferland. €9,450.
Margins: 3, NO, NK. Odds: 1.40, 13.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Dick Whittington (Fr), Volkan Star (Ire), Tuscan Gaze (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Sottsass Pleases In Gallop; Gontaut-Biron Next

Last-out G1 Prix Ganay winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is on course for the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville on Aug. 15 after pleasing connections in a route piece of work on Thursday.

“He did a simple work, as we are accustomed to do,” said trainer Jean-Claude Rouget of Peter Brant’s 4-year-old. “The goal is not to have a hard work; once they have made their seasonal bow, we do maintenance work. They worked over 1,800 metres-all went well. The horse has a good action and he behaves as he does when he is in good form.

“After the Ganay, we left him alone for three weeks. His work picked up for a comeback in mid-August. We didn’t know if he would go to York [for the Juddmonte International] or to Deauville. Apparently, we are going to Deauville. He still had a fairly long break and the York race would be difficult for a semi-return to racing.

The long-term aim for last year’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner is the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 4.

“Sottsass will then have several options before running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe–either the Prix Foy or, if we stay over 2000 metres, the Irish Champion S.,” Rouget said. “The latter test would be more rewarding for his future stallion career. I am not the only deciding voice. There are also his connections–Peter Brant and Coolmore. We will discuss after the Gontaut-Biron.”

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Raabihah Back In The Groove At Deauville

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who went untested as a juvenile, was up with the larks for a Jan. 23 debutantes’ heat win at Cagnes-sur-Mer and doubled up with an impressive tally in ParisLongchamp’s May 14 Listed Prix de la Seine before posting a commendable fourth, despite a troubled trip, pitched into Chantilly’s rescheduled July 5 G1 Prix de Diane in her latest outing. Sent off as the 2-5 lock on a retrieval mission in Saturday’s G3 Prix de Psyche Sky Sports Racing over 10 furlongs at Deauville, the homebred chestnut did not disappoint her legion of supporters and booked a ticket to France’s end-of-season gala with a performance which simply oozed class. She was positioned several lengths off the pacesetting Arriviste (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in fourth until improving one spot as the field bunched on the home turn. Overpowering toiling rivals once quickening in style for control approaching the final furlong, Raabihah surged clear in hand to easily dismiss Listed Prix Finlande victress Wangari (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths with Wangari’s Andre Fabre-trained stablemate Alkandora (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) emerging best of the remainder, finishing 3/4-of-a-length further back in third.

“I think what we have seen here today is a Group 1 filly,” said winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who sent out Luna Kya (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) to win this in 2001 and subsequent MGISW distaffer Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) in 2010. “We knew that before, of course, but we missed the opportunity to win a big one in the Diane where she had an awful trip and didn’t have enough experience to get herself out of trouble. We have been in racing long enough to know that these things happen. The pace was good today and the further she was going the more she was opening up on the rest.”

Rouget is now zoning in on targets back at the highest level with October’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the ultimate goal this year. “For me, she is the best French filly around and she’s not even running over her distance. We know she is a genuine mile-and-a-half filly, with her second and third dams both being Oaks winners, and the plan is to now go straight to the [Sept. 13 G1 Prix] Vermeille and then the [Oct. 4 G1 Prix de l’] Arc [de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp].”

Raabihah is one of two winners and the leading performer produced by Garmoosha (Kingmambo), who was bred to Noble Mission (GB) this year. The fourth of six foals, she is a half-sister to Listed Wait A While S. third Filfila (Kitten’s Joy), a yearling filly by Kitten’s Joy and a 2020 More Than Ready filly. Her dam is an unraced half to G1 Fillies’ Mile third Firdaws (Mr. Greeley) out of G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Eswarah (GB) (Unfuwain), who in turn is a daughter of MG1SW G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Midway Lady (Alleged). The latter also produced G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Umniyatee (GB) (Green Desert) and G3 Princess Royal S. victrix Itnab (GB) (Green Desert), who in turn is the dam of stakes-winning G3 Al Shindagha Sprint runner-up Alazeyab (El Prado {Ire}) and Peruvian Group 3 placegetter Madera de Guerrero (Street Cry {Ire}). Descendants of Umniyatee include Argentina’s G1 Presidente da Republica victor Maltes (Brz) (Red Runner).

Saturday, Deauville, France
PRIX DE PSYCHE SKY SPORTS RACING-G3, €56,000, Deauville, 8-1, 3yo, f, 8fT, 2:02.81, gd.
1–RAABIHAH, 125, f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Garmoosha, by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Eswarah (GB), by Unfuwain
3rd Dam: Midway Lady, by Alleged
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Farm LLC (KY); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €28,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, €91,760. *1/2 to Filfila (Kitten’s Joy), SP-US. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wangari (Ger), 125, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Wamika (Ger), by Shirocco (Ger). (€35,000 Ylg ’18 BBAGO). O-White Birch Farm; B-Gestut Park Wiedingen; T-Andre Fabre. €11,200.
3–Alkandora (GB), 125, f, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Poplin (GB), by Medicean (GB). (85,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-D J Deer & Mrs D J Deer (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €8,400.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 4.40, 8.00.
Also Ran: Arriviste (GB), Chorba (Fr), Run Wild (Ger), Euclidia (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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