Vive la France in Inglis Guineas

Vive la France in Inglis Guineas

Just as the first French-conceived 3YOs by Redoute’s Choice start to appear in French Group 1 fields, his 147th stakeswinner turns up close to home, and his name happens to be…France.

If it’s an omen, it is surely a very good one because France’s performance to win the $400,000 Scone RC Inglis Guineas 1400m (R) LR was outstanding, after jumping from barrier 13 and settling well back off the pace.

Sent wide around the turn, France began to sprint home and was then pushed even wider by Calanda at the 200-metre mark. Tye Angland quickly re-balanced the colt who picked himself up in time to nab dual Group 1 winner Prized Icon on the line, with Spright third.

Watch France win the Scone RC Inglis Guineas (R) LR.

France will now be sent to Queensland for the Winter Carnival, according to part-owner Henry Field of Newgate Farm.

“There’s an abundance of options for him up there. He’s come from the back and run past a Victoria Derby winner today, so there’s no doubting he’s a very talented colt.”

France, a full brother to Group 1 winner Peeping, from two-time Group winner Miss Marielle (by Encosta de Lago), was bred by John Kelly and bought from the Newhaven Park draft for $475,000 by China Horse Club and Michael Wallace Bloodstock at the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He is the 7th stakeswinner from 49 foals bred on the Redoute’s Choice/Encosta de Lago cross.

Trained by Peter & Paul Snowden, who also prepared Redzel to win the Doomben 10,000 G1 90 minutes later, France has now earned almost $300,000 in his two-win, six-start career.

France and Doomben 10,000 runner-up Counterattack were the major contributors to a very rewarding day for Redoute’s Choice, who moved back into the top 10 on the General Sires’ premiership dominated by his sons Snitzel (1st), Not A Single Doubt (5th) and Stratum (8th).

France is the sixth member of his champion sire’s 2013 Australian crop to score in stakes company this season, after Group winners Hardham, Royal Star, Swear & Table Bay and Listed winner Very Tempting. Redoute’s Choice has also registered the first stakeswinner from his 2014 French crop, Gold Luck, winner of the Prix Vanteaux G3 at Chantilly last month.