We all know that the French can breed and export a decent National Hunt prospect. A brief look at the Antepost markets for the Cheltenham Festival will show you the vast influence that French recruits have on the Jumps game. In British terms, that would look to be the main influence that the French have on Racing across the globe, but there are many more aspects to it than just Juvenile hurdlers. France has exported some of the leading horses to various countries around the globe for many years and the end of the 2021 season has shown that trend is likely to continue in 2022.
This series aims to highlight the influence that French horses can have all over the globe and in Part 2 we look at a couple of exciting recruits who have moved across the Atlantic to race in the US.
ELIZAR
3-year-old Colt
Dariyan x PrimaPrima (More than Ready)
Christophe Clement
A €24000 yearling purchase at Arqana, he leaves the care of Igor Endaltsev with a record of 1 run, 1 win in France. A perfect start to the career of this Dariyan colt who made a very taking impression when winning from last to first in a Chantilly maiden in October. Having settled nicely in rear, he made his move around runners and put the race to bed with a devastating turn-of-foot in the home straight, running closing sectionals of 11.05 and 11.07 under the minimum of urgings. The form of that race has yet to really be tested, but he won by 5-lengths, going away at the line and his new connections were suitably impressed to purchase him and ship him over to the United States to be trained by Christophe Clement.
He is the grandson of Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Halfbridled and given the electric speed he showed on debut, he should be well suited to the US style of racing and indeed the Dirt given his pedigree.
When I contacted his new trainer, Christophe Clement said “Elizar is currently in Kentucky being turned out. He was a ridgling and needed to have a testicle removed. The plan is have him back with us in February. Very exciting prospect!”
ROMANOSA
4-year-old Filly
Holy Roman Emperor x Almahroosa (Dubawi)
Christophe Clement
A €25000 yearling, Romanosa will leave France with a career record of 8-1-7 for Mathieu Brasme and a return of €51900 in prize money. She broke her maiden tag at the 4th time of asking at Dieppe in July and went on to run well in top level handicaps before signing off with a 3rd place finish in the Listed Prix Ceres at Fontainebleau in November. She can probably be considered unlucky on her final start as she was forced to come through runners from the rear of mid-division, whereas the winner and 2nd had a much clearer run through and that 2.5 length defeat was probably still a career best effort.
That gave her the all important “Black type” on her CV and she was subsequently sold to Mandore Agency and Christophe Clement for €140,000 at the Arqana sale at the end of last year. Her grand-dam Thakafaat won the Ribblesdale in 2005 and has passed on plenty of stamina to her progeny, so there is a chance that Romanosa might stay further than the 7-furlong trip she has raced at in France, though the speed passed on by her sire Holy Roman Emperor should give her the necessary tools to compete in the US.
Christophe Clement was good enough to update me and advised that she is in the US and should arrive with the barn in February.
My thanks to Christophe Clement for giving me an update on both horses
French Exports
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