ENGLISH TEXTS
show case the quality that this race continues to have. More recently we have seen it become a stallion producing race as mentioned Tunis having finished 2 nd in 2017, Beaumec de Houelle won in 2018, Nirvana du Berlais in 2019, and more recently Jigme in 2023 and Nietzsche Has who was 2 nd last year to Sain D’ Esprit. When looking at who will take part in the autumn contest, we must look back to the participants that race in the spring. The main starting point is the group three contest that takes place on grand steeple chase de Paris weekend the Prix Le Parisian( Prix Aguado). It’ s fair to say we had a shock result this year with the race being won by outsider of the field and debutant Leopard Du Berlais trained by David Cottin for Ecurie Hugo and Pierre Pilarski and ridden by Veteran Johnny Charron. Leopard Du Berlais is by Ectot and out of Cheetah Du Berlais who was no superstar for Robert Collet having ran to a rating of 51 but has fared better as a broodmare producing four winner including black type performer Jaguar Du Berlais. Cheetah Du Berlais back pedigree is slightly more impressive as she is related to two black type performer and fiver individual winners. It was an honest gallop throughout the race contested by 8 horses with the two favorites being previous winners. Matin Midi et Soir for trainer Francois Nicolle, owners Simon Munir, Issac Soude and Haras de S t Voir trio, ridden by Bryony Frost. Wild Bill Hickok for owners Coolmore, trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm and ridden by Felix De Giles. All eyes were on these two at Matin Midi et soir had left a big impression after winning so convincingly on his only starts and Wild Bill Hickok is one of Coolmore’ s hope to continue the Walk in the Park legacy by becoming a stallion. No one told the outsider that he wasn’ t supposed to win, or his price and Johnny Charron delivered the horse perfectly between the others to spoil the party and deliver a success that it’ s fair to say shocked the paddock. Charron kept the horse amongst the pack during the race so he had no chance to show any greenness but what was most impressive was how strong he was crossing the line. Not only did he show a turn of foot, but he didn’ t falter up the home straight showing no signs that this was his first visit to a racecourse. Matin midi et soir had led through and will surely improve as he matures and gets stronger. He has a big frame to fill and will become more race savvy the more times he goes to a racetrack. The third cannot be forgotten either; Midnight Cowboy representing first season sire Moises Has was joint last turning in to the home straight but the Alain Jathiere homebred flashed home to catch the eye and will be one to note going into the autumn. A run to many I think for Wild Bill Hickok as it was his fourth start having won a listed contest the time before. A summer break will do him some good and he cannot be forgotten. The next race that previews some of the potential contestants targeting the autumn group one is the Listed Prix Stanley, held on the final day of racing at Auteuil in the spring. The eight-runner contest brought with it some horses with points to prove and reputations to spoil. The Might Celt for the Coolmore and George, Zetterholm duo started his career off perfectly in March by winning the Prix rush at Auteuil, one of the standout debutant race for three years old’ s. The Mighty Celt was ridden by James Reveley and was covered up in mid division. Just Like Wild Bill Hickok he is by Walk in the Park and is part of the cohort of foals that they bought a few years ago by that stallion in order to try and become stallions by winning the right races in France. Reveley delivered the might celt perfectly to win by four lengths to Precious Man and Berutea who have both now been sold to the Uk and Ireland. Further back was Midnight Cowboy, and we know how he got on later on in the spring. The Might celt however was 5 th on his next start in the Prix Go ahead the first listed race for three year old’ s which was won by Wild Bill Hickok and in the prix Stanley could only do as good as third. That race which was won by the big talking horse going into the Autumn, It’ s Now. The son of Its Gino is trained
# 12 154