racing_news/

European All-weather Series Kicks Off At Cagnes-sur-mer On Sunday
09/02/06

Cagnes Sur Mer in the south of France is the setting for the first leg of the European All-Weather Series on Sunday, February 12.

The Grand Prix De La Riviera Cote D'Azur, run over 2,000 metres (around 10 furlongs) is the first of four Listed and one Group Three races in the European All-Weather Series, which boasts prize money of £259,000 this year and was won in 2005 by the French-trained Billy Allen.

A total of 17 horses are currently engaged in Sunday's 60,000 (Euro) contest, with final declarations set to be made on Friday morning.

British interest comes in the form of the Chris Wall-trained Cimyla, who has been successful on all three of his starts on the all-weather this season with victories in handicaps at Lingfield and Wolverhampton, and most recently in the betdirect.co.uk Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton on January 27. The five-year-old Lomitas gelding has recently been purchased by Gary Tanaka, owner of last year's European All-Weather Champion Billy Allen and also Eccentric, the best horse on the all-weather in Britain in the 2004/05 season.

Trainer Chris Wall said today: "Cimyla has been bought with the intention of going to Cagnes and then the betdirect.co.uk Winter Derby. Hopefully, he will then run in the rest of the series."

Stephane Pasquier is set to take the ride on Cimyla on Sunday and he was the jockey aboard last year's scorer Billy Allen.

As well as runners from France, Sunday's contest has also attracted possible starters from Germany and Italy, including Bening - third in the Group One Premio Presidente della Repubblica in 2005. The home challenge is headed by the first three home from the Prix de Toulouse Cagnes on January 31 - often seen as a trial for this race - Howard Le Canard (winner), Tigron (second) and Svedov (third).

THE EUROPEAN ALL-WEATHER SERIES 2006

Cagnes Sur Mer, France, February 12
Grand Prix De La Riviera Cote D'Azur (Listed), 1m 2f

Neuss, Germany, March 5
Neusser Sandbahn Grand Prix (Listed), 1m 1 1/2f

Lingfield Park, GB. March 18
betdirect.co.uk Winter Derby (Group Three), 1m 2f
Please note that the Group Three £100,000 betdirect.co.uk Winter Derby closes early on Wednesday, February 15.

Capannelle, Italy, April 9
Gran Premio del Circo Massimo (Listed), 1m 2f

Jagersro, Sweden, May 12
Pramms Memorial (Listed), 1m 140 yds

Prize Money for the series is £259,000 (Sterling). Italy is giving a premium of double prize money to any horse who wins or is placed in the Italian leg and comes from outside the country. A 10,000 (Euro) Trainers Award will be awarded to the handler who scores the most points in the series.

Points are awarded on the following basis:

For home-trained runners: 1st: 6; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 3; 4th: 2; 5th: 1.

For overseas-trained runners: 1st: 9; 2nd: 6; 3rd: 5: 4th: 4; 5th: 3.

As an added incentive, all overseas-trained entries that finish outside of the first three will receive a travel allowance.

The Grand Prix de la Riviera Cote d'Azur

BENING O. Pessi (ITY)
BIG LUCIANO F. Boccardelli (ITY)
CHOPASTAIR D. Soubagne (FR)
CIMYLA C. Wall (GB)
COCODRAIL F. Brogi (ITY)
FIANELLO G. Bietolini (ITY)
GANDOLFINO W. Baltromei (GER)
GIRAGLIA Robert Collet (FR)
HOWARD LE CANARD F. Rohaut (FR)
LIMIT UP A. Bolte (GER)
MENESTROL D. Prod'homme (FR)
MISTER FASLIYEV G. Colella (ITY)
PRO KEN Rodolphe Collet (FR)
SINGAPORE PEARL S. Wattel (FR)
SVEDOV E. Lellouche (FR)
TIGRON C. Barande Barbe (FR)
TOO NICE Robert Collet (FR)