ENGLISH TEXTS
been ridden by Gauffenic two times previously, before he told the current owners which includes his partner Manon Louche to purchase the horse. After that he won on their first start for them at Auteuil in a handicap before finishing 6 th when stepping up in grade. Both times for Gauffenic. Tragedy struck for Gauffenic on the 20 th of April on what will now be known as his last ever race ride. He took a mount in the Prix du President de la Republic, France’ s biggest handicap chase, also known as the French Grand National. Little did he know that it would be his last ride but a fall at the rail ditch left him with a broken vertebrae at T7 and some spinal cord damage. He watched on from his hospital bed at George Pompidou Hospital as one of his favorite horses Nectaris bolted up under longtime friend Kevin Nabet. Unable to get to the track due to the severity of his injury, he was there in the parade ring afterwards via the power of technology on facetime to trainer and supporter Noel George. Tears were shed by everyone there and the moment was showed on the big screen in the paddock of him watching the horse he adored by him, and his partner come into the winners enclosure. I know first-hand the heartache at missing such an occasion, but he should know that he is all in our thoughts and we hope his recovery goes well.
The Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm team had more reason for celebration later on, as they caused the upset of the day when their now officially crowned stable star, El Clavel downed the champion Losange Bleu, in the grand course de Haie. This delivered the training partnership a first group one breakthrough in their own name since they joined forces. It was also a second win in the race for jockey James Reveley ten years on from his first victory on Un Temps Pour Tout for David Pipe. The race went exactly how everyone thought it would. Losange Bleu made the running like he usually does under Johnny Charron with El Clavel taking up box seat position just behind him. All went as expected until they jumped the last, both either side of the running with Charron deciding to stay straight and true the far side and Reveley choosing the stand side rail, also known as the golden highway. Now the unexpected happened as El Clavel powered on past the post first, not that you could tell until they got to the finish line that is because of the gap between them. It was neck and neck and I’ d say neither connections were confident on who was in front until they came directly in front of the grandstand. It was a monster performance from the five-year-old who was only having his 6 th ever start and his first in a group one. If he sticks to hurdles, it’ s go- ing to be exciting watching him and Losange Bleu fight it out in the hurdles division. Let’ s hope for a rematch in the autumn. Day one over and on to day 2 where the overnight story was that of Bertrand Lestrade. A fall in the big handicap hurdle left him with a broken collar bone and the search was then on to find replacements for his two group one mounts. More of that later though as day two showcased how unpredictable racing can be. Where many of the stars and favored horses ran well or won on day one, day two was the day for the outsiders. The Marechal Foch was the starting point and an opportunity for the amateur riders to shine on the big stage. It was David Cottin again taking the winning honors in the opener under Mr Alix Lemaire who was having only his second ever ride at Auteuil. Luckily for him, his mount Meme Pas Kap is more of a regular round the Paris track and looked after him all the way to deliver a 14 / 1 winner. The theme of expect the unexpected continue into the next race as the outsider of the whole field Leopard du Berlais sprung a big surprise by winning the valuable Prix Aguado Group three on debut at 28 / 1. A race in the past few years that has been won by horses that have since gone on to stand at stud like Jigme and Nietczhe Has, Leopard du Berlais is a gelding by the unfashionable
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