Victoire Magique wins!

VICTOIRE MAGIQUE won a Group 3 at ParisLongchamp yesterday over 3000 metres under a fine front-running ride by Cristian Demuro to give Solario Racing its biggest day ever!

Last month he won a Listed race at Deauville over the same distance and he was meeting several of those who finished behind him again.  The big dangers however, were likely to be Space Waltz who beat us in a Group 3 at Chantilly over 1m4f in June and Mirik, who had won a Listed race last time out over 1m4f.

All afternoon, nothing was winning by coming from off the pace, so Cristian decided to go to the front from the getgo and although the favourite Space Waltz looked a threat in the home straight, one flick of the whip by Cristian and Victoire renewed his efforts and won by a length from Space Waltz with Mirik a further length back in third.  The three were well clear of the rest of the field.

Sheer joy!

Having a runner at ParisLongchamp is special but to have a winner and in a Group 3 was unbelievable!  There was not a big crowd so the whoops of delight by trainer and Racing Manager probably echoed throughout the Bois de Boulogne as Victoire passed the line in front!

He has now won three times over 3000 metres and according to today’s Jour de Galop, is the best stayer of his generation (ie 3yos) in France!  This hugely talented colt has done nothing but improve this season and all ground conditions come alike to him.

Happy connections!

Given he was the only horse yesterday to have won over 3000 metres (twice!) it is a tad surprising he was sent off the 9/1 fourth favourite!  But hey, he didn’t know his starting price!

Yesterday’s prize money, including the 75% extra for being a French home-bred was 64,000 euros and the horse has now won just short of 200,000 euros in 11 races which have yielded four wins, three seconds and a fourth.

Next stop…?  The Group 2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay over…3000 metres!

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“INSIDE THE RAILS”,

The podcast is co-hosted by yours truly with another industry professional syndicator, Phil Boyle, who runs BG Racing.  It is aimed at “horse racing enthusiasts” everywhere and gets published on the first of each month.

During the podcast, Phil and I discuss what’s been going on with our respective syndicate horses, we review and/or preview major race meetings, over the flat or jumps and we discuss current hot news topics within racing.

Cieren Fallon – appeared on Inside The Rails in April 2022

The second half of the recording comprises an interview with someone from the world of racing, be they a trainer, jockey, broadcaster, clerk of the course, racecourse CEO, bloodstock agent, indeed any racing professional.

Our first guest back in December 2020 was Tom Scudamore while other jockeys, past and present, have included Cieren Fallon, Paul Hanagan, Richard Johnson, Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand.  Trainers have included Amy Murphy, David Pipe, Daniel and Claire Kubler and Gerald Mosse while racing broadcasters and journalists have included Jason Weaver, Lee Mottershead, Rishi Persad, Mike Cattermole and Francesca Cumani.

Honor Clinch at work

Guests talk about how they first got into racing, what their current and indeed previous roles in the sport involved and we always finish by asking what three things they would change for the good of British racing.

Tonmorrow’s guest, Honor Clinch is both affable and eloquent and she has some interesting views on how to improve British racing!

To listen to the latest episode or to catch up on previous episodes, please go into Spotify, Apple or any major platforms.  “Inside The Rails” is widely available and if you like what you hear, do feel free to like, follow and subscribe!

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Lemos De Souza – 15% strike rate this season

GOLDEN LONG won at Doncaster today by a neck, making it three wins for trainer Lemos De Souza in the last fortnight at a staggering 38% strike rate.

The 6yo son of Brazen Beau was winning for the third time for Lemos this season in six starts and just secured victory under Sean Levy by a short head when showing great speed down the centre of the track to chin Ancient State on the line who had been ploughing a lone furrow on the far side.

The 5/2 favourite is owned by Wilson Long Hom Lam and was originally trained in Hong Kong by  F C Lor.  Golden Long clearly relishes fast ground as all three wins have been on Good to Firm.  His first win for Lemos was at Windsor over 6f off a mark of 74 and then he won again over the same distance at Newmarket off 80.  Today, he was running off 84 over 5 1/2 furlongs.  The handicapper shoudn’t be too harsh as the winning margin was just a short head but this progressive gelding is going the right way.

Earlier this week, the stable struck with 3yo Rumble Ruby at Beverley over 5f at a rewarding 16/1 and again the winning margin was a short head.  The 3lbs claimed by apprentice jockey Warren Fentiman was clearly crucial in the win, the horse’s second this season in just six runs.

Lemos hands on at Deauville last week

The fortnight’s three wins began on 5 August with Invincible Isaac’s 6f nursery handicap success at Kempton under Rossa Ryan but this time the winning margin was 3/4 length.

Lemos had a good first season in 2025 with 15 wins on the flat from 166 runs and three wins from twelve runs on the jumps to give him a combined strike rate of 10%.

This year, he has has already notched up 13 wins on the flat from only 87 runs at a 15% strike rate while his individual winners to runners strike rate is running at 35% with nine winners from 26 runners.

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Victoire Magique wins the Listed Michel Houyvet

VICTOIRE MAGIQUE won a Listed race at the prestigious Deauville August meeting yesterday, beating favourite Aeronef by a neck under a superbly judged ride by Cristian Demuro.

Following his fine second in the Group 3 at Chantilly on Prix de Diane day in June, 55 days ago, which was over 1m4f, Victoire was stepping back up in trip from 2400 metress to 3000 metres, a distance over which he won at Angers during early June.

The plan was to have him in the first four in the nine-runner field but Victoire found himself with only two and then three horses behind during most of the contest.  The pace was initally slow but Cristian bided his time and made his move on the outside in the home straight.  The queston was would he find a turn of foot?

Yours truly with Champagne and trophy

He certainly did and in the end won a shade comfortably from the Fabres’ trained Aeronef.  It was a further half length back to the third in the betting, another Fabres’ trained horse, Barzambition.  So the ‘right’ horses fought the finish.

Having achieved lower black type when Victoire came second at Chantilly, it was wonderful for him to now achieve capital black type for winning a Listed race and at the wonderful Normandy track, Deaville.  We have now run at all the five major flat tracks in France – ParisLonchamp, Lyon, St Cloud, Chantilly and Deauville.

Winning at such a beautiful and historic raceourse in a major race was quite emotional but I just held it together.  The trainer felt the same but did likewise and this was another huge milestone in the burgeoning career of Amy in France.  This was her 25th win this year and it took her well past the three-quarters of a million euros in prize money (includng French bred premiums).

Words not necessary…!

As for where we go next with Victoire…might he go to the St Leger at Doncaster?  It’s a possibility as is a Listed contest at Parislonchamp.  His ultimate target is a 3000 meters Group 2 at Parislongchamp on Saturday 3 October.

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Amy greeting Victoire Magique at Chantilly

DEAUVILLE in August!  One of life’s bucket list items if you love top quality European horse racing, if you love being by the sea or if you just love being in the one of the most chic places in France in THE month of the year…August!

Solario Racing’s owners are going to have the chance to achieve all three!

Victoire Magique has been entered for the Prix Michel Houyvet, a Listed race on Saturday 8 August at Deauville over 3000 metres.  There are 12 initial entries and Victoire is the highest rated on 102.

Amy’s horses are in great form.  She has had 6 winners in the last 14 days at a 37% strike rate.  Let us hope this rich vein of form continues into next week end!

Amy and Simon after coming 2nd at Chantilly

Whatever happens, “Victoire Magique” has been a sensational horse for Solaro Racing.  He has run nine times, three times as a 2yo and six times as a 3yo and won twice, been second three times, including in a Group 3 at Chantilly.

A 40,000 guineas purchase at Tattersalls, Book Three in 2024, he has earned over 90,000 euros in prize money, which includes the wonderful 75% French-bred premiums.  These premiums are awarded to French-bred horses when they win or are placed as 2yos and 3yos.

Deauville is a fabulous place to be in August and I was very fortunate to see Hearts Of Fire win the Listed Prix Francois Boutin on 16 August 2009 by five and a half lengths.  He was a horse I spotted at the Doncaster Yearling Sales in 2008 when with Pat Eddery Racing.  We paid £13,000 for him and he won over £325,000 and was sold for over £550,000 at Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in 2010, then the third highest price at that sale.

So can Victoire Maqique spead some stardust at Deauville, some 17 years later?

The post VICTOIRE HEADS TO DEAUVILLE FOR LISTED RACE! appeared first on Solario Racing.

Victoire Magique battling with Space Waltz

VICTOIRE MAGIQUE was a magnificent runner-up yesterday in a Group 3, the Prix du Lys Longines, over 2400 metres (1m4f) at Chantilly on Prix de Diane Day, one of the biggest days of the year in French racing!

He was running just six days after winning at Lyon D’Angers which wasn’t really anticipated but as the race was looking as though it was going to cut up from the original 22 entries, Amy and I decided to take our chance as we were guaranteed prize money and if we could finish in the first three in a Group race, we’d have much sought after black type! In the end, there were just four runners!

Happy owners and trainer before the action!

It was a wonderfully warm day at Chantilly and as we were in the last of nine races, we had plenty of time to enjoy the generous and excellent French hospitality laid on for owners of horses throughout the card.  The Champagne and excellent wine flowed and the food was superbe!

Many of Amy’s staff were at the course, all dressed beautifully for this most chic of French racing occasions.  All we needed was for Victoire, the outsider of four, to get in the first three!

However, before his chance to achieve that, Amy also had two other runners at the course, both in the opener, a 5 /1/2 furlong 2yo maiden for horses who hadn’t run before.  Dream Of Glory was third, beaten just 3/4 length while Wonder Baileys was sixth, beaten 6 1/2 lengths after an interuppted passage.  So, not a bad start to the afternoon on the French equivalent of Oaks Day!

Victoire Magique heading for second in a Group 3

So, the ninth and last race on the card and Victoire was sent off the 17/2 outsider of the party under new jockey but a former three-times French champion jockey, Pierre-Charles Boudot as Cristian Demuro had decided to ride Chamali.  The ground was Good to Firm, the fastest he had ever encountered!

It was Chamail who made the running with Victoire in close attendance in second.  After the bend into the home straight, Victoire made a move and did hit the front but the second favourite, Space Waltz had the move covered and passed him to assert in the last 200 metres, winning by 3 1/2 lengths.  However, we were 7 lengths clear of the third, the favourite, Rumoriste and it was another 11 lengths back to the fourth horse, Chamili, ridden by…Cristian Demuro!

The team was ecstatic so much so that Amy managed to stumble in her exuberant excitment when Victoire hit the front and sprained her ankle!   However, she wasn’t going to let that stop her celebrating with Solario Racing owners and staff!

Celebration Time!

It was a fabulous day and we all partied into the night at the racecourse before adjourning to a local hostelrie near the stables at Lamorlaye!

Well done to Amy Murphy for superb race planing!

The post VICTOIRE SECOND IN GROUP 3 AT CHANTILLY! appeared first on Solario Racing.

Victoire Magique crossing the line at Lion D’Angers

VICTOIRE MAGIQUE won his second race of his career and his first as a 3yo when slamming his rivals by three lengths and more at Angers yesterday for Solario Racing.

Stepping up to 3000 metres or 1m7f for the first time, the going was officially good to soft and the horse was running at the Angers or Lion D’Angers as it is officially known for the second time in his career, having been second at the track as a 2yo on his third and final start of the year.

Victoire with Amy, Cristian Demuro and stable lass Hannah Boult

Cristian Demuro was again in the saddle, riding him for the fifth time in eight starts and he gave him a beautiful ride.  There was at last a proper pace on, something often lacking in his previous race and Cristian had him settled in fourth position for most of the race until making his move on the final bend.

The favourite, Derawar, owned by the Aga Khan Studs and trained by Francois Graffard had been in second for much of the race but was soon in trouble as Cristian and Victoire kicked for home soon after the final bend, putting daylight between them and the rest of the field.

Racing Manager bonding with the victorious Victoire Magique

Once they went for home it was all over and as Victoire was eased down by Cristian, it was three lengths back to the runner-up and 7/2 second favourite, Nabab’K, with a further length and a quarter back to the third horse, Crystal Bay.  The hot 6/4 favourite was beaten five and a half lengths into fifth place.

Amy had made the four hour trip to the track and arrived around ten minutes before the off but in time to watch the victory and celebrate with yours truly.

It was fabulous to see the horse return back to winning ways and clearly the step up in trip and the proper gallop suited him.

The prize money was over 17,500 euros, which as ever included 75% French-bred premium!

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Victoire Magique in 4th

VICTOIRE MAGIQUE ran a great race to be fourth yesterday at St Cloud in a Group 3 over 2000 metres (1m2f) in only his second career start.

The 2yo son of Victor Ludorum had won on his debut at Lyon-Parilly 24 days earlier comfortably by 1 1/2 lengths from Proof and deserved the step up  in class.

St Cloud is a racecourse similar to Newbury in that it’s a left-handed, galloping track and from a spectator’s point of view, also similar in that one can see the whole course.

Tony Piccone was on board as Christian Demuro had been claimed to ride Powai for Godolphin and Andre Fabre.

Victoire Magique in the Winner’s Enclosure

At the start, as at Lyon, Victoire Magique, missed the break and he was last until five furlongs from home, when he made a move and improved into mid-division.  He was ridden three out but was was sandwiched inside the three.  He did run on and was only beaten 3 lengths.

The horse ran well on ground which was quicker than at Lyon-Parilly but it was a shame Christian Demuro was not able to ride.  Ironically, his horse was a non-runner but French rules unlike those in England do not permit a jockey change.

Amy and the team and Solario Racing were delighted with the horse but there was a feeling of “what if?”  The bubble might have been slightly deflated but it has not been burst and as they say, we live to fight another day.

Another day could be at St Cloud on 26 October in a Group One, again over 2000 metres.  It’s the Grand Criterium, a race which often has few runners.  Last year, there were just three and the year before, just seven.  The going was Heavy and Very Soft respectively, which if similar this year, would suit Victoire Magique, or “Le Grande Homme” as he is known.

Watch this space!

The post ST CLOUD GROUP 3 FOURTH FOR VICTOIRE MAGIQUE! appeared first on Solario Racing.

Victoire Magique with victorious connections!

SOLARIO RACING had its first ever French runner at Lyon-Parilly yesterday and it won!  This came, just five days after Sharp Distinction was winning at Kempton!

Victoire Magique, a lovely big strapping son of first season sire, Victor Ludorum, was making his debut at one of France’s best provincial tracks, Lyon-Parilly over 1200 metres (1m2f) in a 2yo conditions race.

Trained by Amy Murphy at Lamorlaye, Chantilly, he was one of eight runners, which included the odds-on favourite, Proof, trained by Christopher Head, who had been second on his debut at Deauville, beaten a short neck.  Another market leader, Feelings, trained by Francois Graffard, had been second at Chantilly and fourth at Deauville.  On paper, “The Big Man” as he is known by his trainer,  had it all to do!

Victoire Magique heading for victory

The going was officially Very Soft, which was always going to be a help.  But regarless of ground, who knows what will happen when the stalls open?

Victoire Magique was very akward at the start and was slowly away but jockey, Christian Demuro, soon manouvered him into mid-division and he travelled well throughout.

French racing can often start off at a crawl and develop into a sprint and indeed they did dawdle early on but Victoire Magique made good progress in the home straight, only suddenly to tread water but after a reminder by Christian Demuro, he took off and reeled in the leader, Proof, to win comfortably by a length and a half.  It was 2 1/2 lengths and 3 lengths back to the third and fourth.

Happy jockey, Christian Demuro

Owned by a small Solario Racing syndicate, one of the owners was there to enjoy the victory with yours truly and despite the customary French crowd being thin on the ground, that didn’t stop us both celebrating both on the course and into the night!

Bravo au grande homme!

The post FIRST FRENCH RUNNER…FIRST FRENCH WINNER! appeared first on Solario Racing.

Sharp Distinction wins!

SHARP DISTINCTION won at Kempton Park yesterday in a 1m4f handicap under Luke Catton to the delight of his owners, Solario Racing (Berkhamsted).

The 6-y-o son of Tamayuz was winning his first race of the season but was registering his fourth career success, having won three times during the last two seasons.

The 6/1 shot, fourth in the betting, had gone close 26 days previously at Leicester on the turf, when beaten a neck also under three pound claimer, Luke Catton.  This time the pair went one better!

“Sharpie” in first place!

The plan was for Sharp Distinction, aka “Sharpie” to be fairly handy but it didn’t quite pan out like that with the chestnut gelding being in rear throughout most of the contest.  Fortunately, there was some early pace on with Dubawi Time taking a keen hold under Marco Ghiani and “Sharpie” travelled well.

Making good headway two furlongs from home, he was ridden a furlong out and ran on well inside the last half furlong to win comfortably by a length and three-quarters from the favourite, Nivelle’s Magic.

It was nothing more than “Sharpie” deserved having been a model of consistency during his career.  This year, the form book will have shown that he had lost his way a little but that doesn’t tell the whole story as he had been given quite a bit to do on occasions.

Winning Owners!

This very likeable and versatile chestnut gelding has now won on the grass over 1m6f and on the all-weather over 1m4f – 1m5f.  His previous two wins had been at Lingfield, a left-handed track but going right-handed around Kempton Park was never going to be an issue as he had been second twice and also third twice at the track in eight previous outings.  Indeed, one one occasion as a 3yo, he was beaten just a head over two miles!

Congratulations to Solario Racing (Berkhamsted) owners and also to trainer, Lemos De Souza who has had two wins from two runners for Solario Racing this year!

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