ENGLISH TEXTS ter for Johnny Charron just half an hour later after piloting Sel Jem to victory. He kept the Papot silks on and swung his leg over another long-time ally in Losange Bleu as they took a commanding and breathtaking victory in the Prix Carmarthen. The six-year-old by Martaline was carrying top weight and took up his usual style of racing by going off on the front end. Having finished third in this race last year before going on to win the Grand Prix d’ autonome, it would be a bit of a shock to see him win and win like he did when taking on current grande course de haie champion El Clavel for the inform team of George and Zetterholm, Gallipoli and Jet blue and Cheltenham grade 2 winner. Gallipoli joined Losange Bleu at the front of the pack with EL Clavel tracking his every move and Jet Blue just on his outside. With a circuit to go Gallipoli really stretched them and made sure the 3900m race was going to hold no hiding places. Turning in to the final bend the two favorites took up the running due to ever tiring Gallipoli with outsider Imbatable du seuil holding on to 4 th. It looked poised to a head-to-head battle between the two best hurdlers in France, but Losange Bleu put them all to the sword and laughed at the field as he destroyed them with a poignant turn of foot to win by a 10-length margin, with Imbatable du seuil courageously staying on for 2 nd with El Clavel a further 12 lengths back in 3 rd. I feel he could be forgiven and be given a 2 nd chance come the big race in November as that was his first start since the grade 1 triumph in May so don’ t give up on him just yet. He will have to bounce back significantly and give a career best performance to beat the ever consistent 6-year-old Losange bleu who will most certainly be favorite for the November hurdle highlight. The final graded race on the card was for the four years olds again but this time taking on the Steeplechase course in the prix Orcada. A decent size field of 12 went to post including the short priced favorite Lanivtsi for Dominic Bressou, Gabin Meunier and Patrick Papot who took grade 1 honors in the spring when winning the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure. He won his grade 1 as an outside at 10 / 1 but returned from his summer holiday by winning the grade 3 Prix the fellow to Lecoeurdeshommes who also reapposed in the Orcada. As was the theme of the day in the graded races, there was plenty of pace on as four tried to take up the running with Lanivtsi and Lecoeurdeshommes leading the way. Maguelon and grade 1 second Martha Cannary were just behind those with top three-year-old chaser Hacker du Berlais whos been on a revival mission since having a disappointing spring was towards the rear with stable mate Coeur d’ amour and Leader Sport. The son of Nirvana du berlais was fairly unfancied taking his chance in this contest. He won his first two races impressively but when taking the step up in to listed company he finished 7 th. After a summer break he attempted fences for the first time around Auteuil over 3500m and finished 2 nd to Musique Maestro with Coeur d’ armour in third. A taking performance but still plenty was unknown about how he handles the step up in trip and grade. A patient ride from young Leo-Paul Brechet however saw him turn in to the home straight in contention, even if he did blunder the gros open ditch. Jumping the last upside, the short price favorite he duly quickened away like a very smart horse and one not to be forgotten when it comes to the Maurice gillois. His 12 length victory to Lanivtsi was impressive but he was four kilos better off at the weights so it’ ll be interesting to see how they match up off level weights. It’ s not a 2-horse race either with Le rivage who finished with a flourish into 3 rd place cannot be discounted especially when coming from the Francois Nicolle stable. One thing for certainly is that it’ s a wide-open contest and let the best horse win.
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PONEYS
ANISETTE THE SUPER PONY
BY BÉRANGÈRE ROSSIGNOL
She’ s a not-so-tall little pony with a funny dun coat, not necessarily the greatest of champions, but ultra-efficient and utterly reliable over fences. So why choose her, after so many portraits of exceptional ponies known for their quality?
Because Anisette is a super pony with whom many young jockeys from the West began both flat and jump racing; Because she’ s endearing when she looks at you with her dark-rimmed eyes, Because Anisette helps little
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