We might be in the middle of the National Hunt season, but this Friday's card at Chantilly looked likely to be highly informative. There were 4 maiden races on the polytrack for the 3-year-olds and each of them offers some hope for the future. There are often debutantes (inédits) races on the All-Weather tracks in France and as we build towards the new turf season in the North, with the first meeting at Saint-Cloud just 27-days away, these races can be worth watching for the early types. All of the maiden races run at Chantilly today were won by debutantes and in their own way, they all impressed me. If I had to select just one horse, then it would be Curragh Camp, who was an impressive winner of the Prix du Rond du Menage and whose closing sectionals would suggest is considerably above average, but each of these races looks likely to produce further winners. Here are my notes from the card.
Winner | Time | Réduction KM | Final 3-furlongs |
Curragh Camp | 101.50 | 63.43 | 34.13 |
God Speed | 97.18 | 60.73 | 35.29 |
Hacqueville | 99.17 | 61.98 | 34.50 |
PRIX DU ROND DU MANEGE
Steadily run race that has turned into a 2-furlong sprint. Curragh Camp has raced on the leaders quarters, but found everything easy and quickened readily when asked for an effort by Soumillon, finishing in 10.89 and 10.81s. (66.5 km/h). He is a Romanised half-brother to Under Control and Iznik. PMU 4.1 Fav.
Tayib Youmzain (2nd) was 4-lengths behind the winner, but has kept on and stayed on better than Keremet (3rd) in the closing stages.
PRIX DES GAZONS DE COYE
Much stronger pace than the Colts race. Godspeed has come from behind the pace, but has lengthened readily in the home straight to win by 6-lengths, though her top speed of 63.3 km/h is considerably slower than Curragh Camp.
Temptable (2nd) has stayed on, but lacked the pace of the winner, finishing in 11.57 and 11.95s, 0.53s slower. Labelled with Love (3rd) and particularly Harlem (4th, early leader) have had to work hard from wide draws and have paid for that in the closing stages, though this field has finished strung out.
PRIX MOLTON
3YO Handicap for comparison. Hacqueville is rated 37-kg and has completed a hat-trick here, coming with a late run from off the pace.
Winner | Time | Réduction KM | Final 3-furlongs |
Extrapol | 117.26 | 61.71 | 35.36 |
Soccer Sister | 118.23 | 62.22 | 35.02 |
PRIX DE LA CROIX VAILLANT
A debut win for Extrapol. He has settled nicely in mid-division behind a fair pace, before staying on widest of all in the straight and getting the better of Zodd (2nd). The runner-up has an official rating of 40.5-kg, mainly from his 3rd placed finish behind the 44-rated Rosapenna in December. He may not be quite up to that rating, but he is consistent and is at least a high 30s horse, so this 3-length success should not be underestimated. PMU 2.7
PRIX DE LA HAUTE POMMERAYE
Bunched finish. Debut win for Soccer Sister who has had to overcome a poor track position (towards rear on the inside rail). When the gap came, she had the speed to go through it and was then nursed home ahead of the closers.
Miss Clavel (2nd) and Chantal (3rd) had shown some ability on their debuts. They were closing at the line, without looking like troubling the winner in time.
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