ENGLISH TEXTS
three year old Sain d’ esprit who was so far undefeated at four having run in two group threes taking on the champion four year old from the spring Kivala Du Berlais who was having his first start since that win in May. The race was run at a strong pace with the outsider Nikkaluokta making the running under Baptiste le Clerc followed closely by his stable mate and former group three winner Djin’ s. turning the final bend, it looked to be between the two favorites who would battle it out for the win. The shock would come however jumping the last as the other participant Its Win O’ clock for the training duo of Noel George and Amanada Zetterholm who can do no wrong at the moment, quickened away smartly and quite surprisingly to win by an impressive 12 lengths. The son of Ivanhowe had be previously placed at listed and group two level back in the spring but this was by far a career best performance and firmly secured his place towards the top of the betting come the grande course haie de 4ans. When looking at that race in November we cannot overlook Sain d’ esprit who could have been having an off day and Kivala du berlais as he may have needed the run. When considering others its quite difficult to look at who could better any of these three, with Six Figures and Musique maestro ho filled the placing behind Kivala du berlais in the group one in spring both being out of training. It’ s a wide-open race and one I cannot wait for. The next graded race on the card was the feature and highlight of the card the grade 3 for older horses over fences the Prix
Heros. This is one of the big trials for the French king George also known as the Haye Joussilin and attractive a stellar and star-studded field of 10 with half of them having won at grade 1 level. It was a grueling test from the get-go with Juntos Ganamos who was returning since his runin last year’ s English King George =, taking up the running under leading jockey Lucas Zuliani. He was joined by Alcyone rouge and closed followed by one of the other leading fancies for the race, former grade 1 winner Sel Jem. In the mid pack you had former haye jousslin winner Gran Diose who was last seen in the grand Steeplechase de Paris, Amy du kiff who two years ago won the Prix Maurice Gilloius-grande Steeplechase des 4 ans and Toscana du berlais who is always a certified feature in these races. Towards the rear was the other grade 1 winner Kaadem who took last year’ s prix Maurice gillois. Going out the final circuit the paced quickened up another level resulting in Alcyone rouge being pulled. The rail ditch and fence proved the toughest obstacle on the course, causing one of the market leaders Juntos Ganamos to make a mistake and part ways with his jockey. This is the second time he’ s made a mistake there and will have to overcome this if he’ s with a chance of taking the glory come November. Turning for home, it looked to between two horse, Sel Jem and Gran diose. They both jumped the 2 nd and last fence upsides, but s gran diose faded understandably having not run since May, it was Sel Jem who dashed away up the home straight to win comfortably and throw his name back in to the big time before the bid race. It has to be recognized as a terrific training performance by the Macaire and Lageneste team as the horse had not won a graded race in over three years since he was victorious in the grand Steeplechase de Paris as a 5-year-old. His Jockey cannot be forgotten either as Johnny Charron deserves a huge shout out when it comes to the success of this horse. Finishing in second was Toscana dur berlais who as mentioned before always feature in these races and could be getting better with age, cannot count him out come November. Amy du kiff ran on for third which surely books his spot for the 16 th of November along with youngster Bon Garcon who was 4 th and will look to tackle the longer trip for the first time and cannot be ignored as he did win the prix des drags in the spring. When considering others for the Haye Jousslin, we most defiantly cannot forget the first two past the post from this year’ s Grand Steeplechase de Paris; Diamond Carl and Kolokiko. However, Diamond Carl has not been in training since the 5 th of September so looks unlikely that he will be a starter this year. Kolokiko who gave Nicolas Gauffenic is only grade 1 win in the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure, returning from a summer break with a 2 nd in conditions hurdle at Auteuil beating previous French Gold cup winner Rosario Baron back in third. He goes into the big weekend with a winning chance and his front running style will lay down the gauntlet to Sel Jem and Gran diose who I think are his main rivals to go and catch him. The day got bet-
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