Salon De Provence Race 2 - De La Cote Bleue Claiming Stakes
SIMPLYTHEBEST (6) suffered a 0.5L defeat in placing second contesting a 2400m claiming event at Moulins. Taken to break through for the first win of his career. AFFECTION (1) came home 2.5L clear of her nearest rival in a 2150m claiming event at Lyon-la-Soie. Bold show expected returning to turf. TOREBEK (2) registered a 5.75L fifth competing over 2600m in maiden company at Marseille-Borely. Notable contender making his first appearance at this circuit. Sea The Moon colt TO NIGHT MOON (4) registered a 2.75L third over 2000m at Marseille-Vivaux on his penultimate appearance. Warrants close consideration.

Jockey: H Besnier
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Comes here off a 36-day let-up. At the latest run favourite; won by 2.5 len at Lyon-la-Soie March 11 over 2150m defeating Sede Vacante carrying 58kg at $2.40. The run before that 7th of 9 at Cagnes-sur-Mer All Weather on February 21 over 2000m, 6 len behind Hatanka Fal with 55.5kg at $6.10. Impressed last start and can go on with it.
Last Starts 35 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 11/03/2026 | 18 | CLM 3 | $23,880.00 | Lyon La Soie | 2150m | Neutral | Marvin Grandin | 58kg | 2:19.80 | 2-1-1 | 8 |
| 2.5L | $2.40 |
| 7/9 | 21/02/2026 | 33 | CL2 3 | $40,410.00 | Cagnes-Sur-Mer | 2000m | Neutral | Marvin Grandin | 55.5kg | 2:05.13 | 5-6-7 | 3 |
| 6.4L | $6.10 |
| 3/9 | 19/01/2026 | 56 | HCP 3 | $47,190.00 | Cagnes-Sur-Mer | 2000m | Neutral | Marvin Grandin | 59.5kg | 2:07.06 | 3-3-3 | 1 |
| 0.7L | $6.40 |
| 1/7 | 24/11/2025 | 24 | HCP 2 | $30,570.00 | Marseille Vivaux | 2000m | Slow | Marvin Grandin | 58.5kg | 2:12.00 | 4-3-1 | 3 |
| 1.5L | $2.00 |
| 4/9 | 31/10/2025 | 23 | HCP 2 | $30,620.00 | Marseille Borely | 1700m | SH | D Breux | 56.5kg | 1:48.62 | - | 4 |
| 1.7L | $6.40 |
| 1/10 | 08/10/2025 | 14 | MDN 2 | $37,500.00 | Marseille Vivaux | 2000m | Neutral | Mickael Barzalona | 56.5kg | 2:09.91 | 4-4-1 | 8 |
| 0.1L | $2.80 |

Jockey: A Orani
Weight: 57.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Most recently 5th of 9 at Marseille-Borely on April 3 over 2600m, 6 len behind Basquiat carrying 58kg at $9.10. Before that 3rd of 9 at Marseille Vivaux on March 9 over 2600m, 1.2 len behind Hercule Star with 58kg at $13. Cannot be ruled out despite a moderate effort last time.
Last Starts 12 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/9 | 03/04/2026 | 25 | MDN 3 | $32,110.00 | Marseille Borely | 2600m | Good Soft | Marina Brunelli | 58kg | 2:49.21 | 5-5-5 | 4 |
| 5.9L | $9.10 |
| 3/9 | 09/03/2026 | 28 | MDN 3 | $31,840.00 | Marseille Vivaux | 2600m | Neutral | Thomas Trullier | 58kg | 2:53.14 | 6-6-3 | 4 |
| 1.2L | $13.00 |
| 3/14 | 09/02/2026 | 14 | CLM 3 | $26,150.00 | Cagnes-Sur-Mer | 2000m | Neutral | Theo Bachelot | 56kg | 2:04.72 | 12-7-3 | 5 |
| 3.7L | $10.00 |
| 6/14 | 26/01/2026 | 9 | CLM 3 | $27,020.00 | Cagnes-Sur-Mer | 2150m | Soft | Ioritz Mendizabal | 58kg | 2:25.34 | 5-4-6 | 4 |
| 7.7L | $20.00 |
| 12/15 | 17/01/2026 | 19 | MDN CG 3 | $36,840.00 | Cagnes-Sur-Mer | 2150m | Soft | Cristian Demuro | 58kg | 2:21.23 | 1-2-12 | 3 |
| 21.7L | $9.40 |
| 12/15 | 29/12/2025 | 27 | MDN CG 2 | $48,580.00 | Deauville | 1900m | Neutral | Stephane Pasquier | 58kg | 1:57.35 | - | 9 |
| 11.3L | $17.00 |

Jockey: A Crastus
Weight: 56kgs
Stats
Comments
Raced twice to date. At long odds at debut, ran last of 9 at Toulouse on March 18 over 2100m, slow going 8 len behind Easy As Pie carrying 55.5kg at $37. Last start 5th of 7 at Toulouse on April 6 over 2000m, on a slow track; 12 len behind Duro carrying 58kg at $55. Can't make much of a case.
Last Starts 9 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/7 | 06/04/2026 | 19 | MDN CG 3 | $32,110.00 | Toulouse | 2000m | Soft | Fabrice Veron | 58kg | 2:07.11 | 4-4-5 | 6 |
| 12.5L | $55.00 |
| 9/9 | 18/03/2026 | - | UNR 3 | $31,840.00 | Toulouse | 2100m | Soft | Martin Protti | 55.5kg | 2:19.60 | 9-9-9 | 8 |
| 8.1L | $37.00 |

Jockey: Guillaume Guedj-Gay
Weight: 56kgs
Stats
Comments
Last start second last of 7 at Toulouse on April 6 over 2000m, slow going 13 len behind Duro with 58kg at $10. The race before that 3rd of 8 at Marseille Vivaux on March 22 over 2000m, 2.75 len behind Aleksandrovka carrying 58kg at $6.40. Cannot be ruled out despite a moderate effort last time.
Last Starts 9 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/7 | 06/04/2026 | 15 | MDN CG 3 | $32,110.00 | Toulouse | 2000m | Soft | Maxime Foulon | 58kg | 2:07.11 | 5-5-6 | 4 |
| 13.8L | $10.00 |
| 3/8 | 22/03/2026 | 4 | CLM 3 | $19,070.00 | Marseille Vivaux | 2000m | Neutral | Theo Bachelot | 58kg | 2:10.35 | 7-6-3 | 4 |
| 2.8L | $6.40 |
| 7/9 | 18/03/2026 | 156 | MDN CG 3 | $31,840.00 | Marseille Borely | 2000m | Soft | Ambre Molins | 56.5kg | 2:09.00 | 6-7-7 | 6 |
| 7.6L | $22.00 |
| 8/13 | 13/10/2025 | - | UNR 2 | $37,170.00 | Marseille Borely | 1800m | Good Soft | Ioritz Mendizabal | 58kg | 1:53.88 | - | 6 |
| 8.3L | $23.00 |

Jockey: H Mouesan
Weight: 54.5kgs
Stats
Comments
At the latest run 6th of 9 at Lignieres on April 7 over 2000m, slow going 9 len behind Sully carrying 54.5kg at $17. The start before that got back early 5th of 7 at Lyon-la-Soie on March 21 over 2400m, 6 len behind Johnny Drive carrying 55kg at $39. Hard to make much of a case.
Last Starts 8 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/9 | 07/04/2026 | 17 | COND 3 | $22,910.00 | Lignieres | 2000m | Soft | Julien Guillochon | 54.5kg | 2:14.10 | 9-9-6 | 6 |
| 9.8L | $17.00 |
| 5/7 | 21/03/2026 | 19 | CLM 3 | $19,070.00 | Lyon La Soie | 2400m | Neutral | Emilien Puillet-Roda | 55kg | 2:35.50 | 6-6-5 | 7 |
| 6.8L | $39.00 |
| 5/7 | 02/03/2026 | 34 | MDN 3 | $31,840.00 | Lyon La Soie | 2400m | Neutral | Glen Meury | 55kg | 2:37.06 | 7-5-5 | 6 |
| 9.5L | $36.00 |
| 8/10 | 27/01/2026 | 6 | HCP 3 | $36,840.00 | Cagnes-Sur-Mer | 1600m | Neutral | Maxence Marquette | 59.5kg | 1:40.00 | - | 3 |
| 7.5L | $52.00 |
| 8/10 | 21/01/2026 | 26 | CLM 3 | $25,260.00 | Lyon La Soie | 2150m | Neutral | Tony Piccone | 56kg | 2:18.96 | 1-1-8 | 1 |
| 5.9L | $7.80 |
| 7/14 | 26/12/2025 | 19 | MDN F 2 | $37,230.00 | Pau | 2000m | Neutral | Ioritz Mendizabal | 58kg | 2:05.80 | 3-4-7 | 1 |
| 5.5L | $34.00 |

Jockey: M Brunelli
Weight: 54.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Recent form sound. Last start 2nd of 7 at Moulins on April 9 over 2400m, slow going 0.5 len behind Johnny Drive with 56kg at $4.60. The start before that 3rd of 7 at Lyon-la-Soie on March 21 over 2400m, 3 len behind Johnny Drive carrying 58kg at $2.50. Well placed to take this out.
Last Starts 6 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/7 | 09/04/2026 | 19 | CLM 3 | $19,230.00 | Moulin | 2400m | Soft | Antonio Orani | 56kg | 2:49.40 | 5-3-2 | 1 |
| 0.5L | $4.60 |
| 3/7 | 21/03/2026 | 19 | CLM 3 | $19,070.00 | Lyon La Soie | 2400m | Neutral | Antonio Orani | 58kg | 2:35.50 | 5-5-3 | 3 |
| 3.0L | $2.50 |
| 2/7 | 02/03/2026 | 16 | MDN 3 | $31,840.00 | Lyon La Soie | 2400m | Neutral | Antonio Orani | 58kg | 2:37.06 | 4-3-2 | 3 |
| 5.0L | $6.00 |
| 5/15 | 14/02/2026 | 71 | MDN 3 | $32,600.00 | Lyon La Soie | 1800m | Neutral | Hugo Besnier | 58kg | 1:54.14 | - | 7 |
| 3.8L | $18.00 |
| 2/12 | 05/12/2025 | 27 | CLM 2 | $21,280.00 | Lyon La Soie | 1800m | Neutral | Hugo Besnier | 56kg | 1:54.64 | - | 12 |
| 1.8L | $19.00 |
| 5/7 | 08/11/2025 | 26 | CLM 2 | $21,200.00 | Lyon La Soie | 1800m | Neutral | Hugo Besnier | 56kg | 1:55.24 | - | 5 |
| 6.3L | $8.50 |

Jockey: M Germain
Weight: 53kgs
Stats
Comments
Was at long odds at debut, second last of 9 at Marseille-Borely on March 18 over 2000m, on a slow track; 13 len behind Damietta with 54.5kg at $39. Requires plenty of improvement after a modest debut.
Last Starts 28 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/9 | 18/03/2026 | - | MDN F 3 | $31,840.00 | Marseille Borely | 2000m | Soft | Marina Brunelli | 54.5kg | 2:05.04 | 7-9-8 | 4 |
| 13.0L | $39.00 |