OWNER David Maxwell, originally from Northern Ireland, had a quick return on his recent Arqana purchase at Auteuil when the amateur rider partnered his €180,000 purchase Cat Tiger to victory in the Grade 3 Prix Morgex Chase over two miles and six furlongs and worth €65,250 to the winner. Trained by Dominique Bressou, he will now move to the Paul Nicholls yard.
Bressou completed a treble on the day and was also successful in the Grade 3 Prix Andre Michel Hurdle for fillies and mares. Raffles Sun (Poligote) in the familiar Simon Munir and Isaac Souede colours made it her fourth win in her last five outings, beating the favourite, Jubilatoire.
THIRD WIN
Bressou’s third win was in the Grade 2 Prix Leon Olry-Roederer Hurdle with the favourite Galop Marin who beat the Nick Williams-trained Le Rocher by 12 lengths, ridden by Morgan Regairaz.
The main race on the card was the Grade 2 Prix Georges Courtois Chase and victory went to Srelighonn, (Martaline) ridden by Gaetan Masure. He won by five lengths and also carries the colours of Simon Munir, Isaac Souede and trainer François Nicolle.
The two-mile, six-furlong chase was worth €99,000 to the winner. Winning trainer François Nicolle maintains his lead over Guillaume Macaire in the jumps trainer championship. Nicolle leads by €537,993.
The race saw the last ride in public for Jacques Ricou on the fourth placed Milord Thomas.
REGULAR RIDER
Ricou had been the regular rider of Grade 1 winning chaser Jair Du Cochet on his runs in Britain and has spent some time in the Willie Mullins yard in the last years.
The Louisa Carberry trained It’s Jennifer was a six-length winner of the Prix Jean Laumain (a handicap chase) ridden by Ludovic Philipperon.
Maisons-Laffitte to cease racing after 2019 season
FRANCE Galop has announced Maisons-Laffitte is to end its “horse-racing activities” from the end of next year.
The course, close to Paris, is home to two Group 2 races – the Prix Robert Papin and Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte – as well as some of the early-season French classic trials. Maisons-Laffitte is also renowned as a training base.
The track’s scheduled 24 race days in the 2019 calendar may be its last, however, as part of a reduction in operating costs in response to falling betting revenues.
A statement on Wednesday from France Galop said: “At its central economic and social committee meeting today, France Galop’s management presented a project for the restructuring of its activities at Maisons-Laffitte.
“The project involves the following: Rescaling and modernising the Maisons-Laffitte Training Centre thanks to an investment of around €1.5 million, designed to ensure it continues to operate.
“Although the training centre is designed to allow 1,500 horses to train there at any one time, it is home to fewer than 500 at the moment. The adjustment to its actual level of activity will lead to a significant reduction in operating costs.”
GAMBLING MARKET
It continued: “Since 2011, horse racing has had to contend with the profound transformation of the gambling market. In the space of eight years the amount wagered on horse racing in France has fallen 1.9 billion.
“As a result of the drop in betting revenue, which accounts for more than 90% of its financial resources, France Galop recorded a deficit of €119 million between 2014 and 2017.”
He added: “France Galop will also make specific resources available in support of a plan for restructuring the Maisons-Laffitte racecourse site, in partnership with the local council and stakeholders.”