ENGLISH TEXTS
role of a primary school pawn . The big black back bristling with stakes to that of a doormat ! Then he crossed the finish line without ever worrying about his opponents . Of course , there was Hyères III before him , Ucello II and Mid Dancer afterwards , but Katko leaves the memory of the absolute jumper . Even in the opinion of his trainer , Bernard Sécly , he had more class than his other famous charge , Al Capone II . The latter , author of a historic series of seven consecutive successes in the Prix La Haye-Jousselin , acquired admiration and affection , while Katko approached heroism . Al Capone II has his -unfaithful- statue near the parade ring , while Katko arouses an emotion tinged with unease when you are in front of his skeleton , at the Auteuil museum
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Auteuil with an all-weather track ? The tracks of the French “ temple of jump racing “ surrounded by a sand track for flat horses ? Once the surprise of learning about this possibility has passed , the questions and concerns arise . How much land will be left for hurdlers , mainly on the “ opposite side “ straight ? It is an already very busy space , on which all the fields gallop in the same places , unlike that of the steeplechasers . We have already raced on the flat at Auteuil , but exceptionally , during the war , without it causing any problems , it seems to me . But it was on the turf and there were fewer races . For these possible flat races , we assume that the starts will not be given with an elastic start . How then to move the stalls without the tractor and the metal stalls themselves damaging the jumps tracks ? In addition to the technical aspect , there is the aesthetic aspect . Sand tracks reduce the green space , when they don ’ t give a racecourse a rather sinister wasteland look ( especially when it borders a trotting track ). One can imagine that the economic reason -which remains to be specified- could possibly justify the functional taking over at Auteuil . Without enthusiasm .
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What will remain in the memories of the 2024 Prix de l ’ Arc de Triomphe ? More enthusiastic memories than those of the victories of Carroll House and Marienbard , but certainly less vibrant than those left by Dancing Brave , Peintre Célèbre or Zarkava , among other dazzling winners . The race was played out at the front . Without a dedicated pacemaker , Los Angeles , starting from stall 10 , moved “ head and rail “ to set a regular pace , neither slow nor very fast . In his wake , runners who had started closer to the rail than him : Bluestocking ( stall 3 ), Zarakem ( 1 ) and Sosie ( 6 ) in particular . On the outside of Bluestocking at the very beginning of the climb , Haya Zark suddenly gave way and caused trouble at the back of the field , which particularly affected Mqse de Sévigné . Los Angeles launched the race quite early , at the 4-furlong mark , where Ryan Moore started to ask him for an effort . Bluestocking and Sosie were following him very freely and launched their attack in the straight , followed by Aventure . Tough in the effort , Bluestocking was only “ pushed “ to the post by Aventure , Los Angeles keeping third place ahead of Sosie and Sevenna ’ s Knight , the only one of the first seven to have come from the back . The Prix Vermeille form was therefore the one to believe in to have the first two roles of the 2024 Arc . It was quite difficult for many to predict with conviction , even if Bluestocking ’ s entourage had paid a hefty sum to supplement their 4-year-old filly . The still vivid summer images of Bluestocking clearly dominated in Great Britain by Goliath in the King George and then by City of Troy ( and
Calandagan , followed by Ghostwriter ) in the International Stakes , did not impose her as an obvious favourite . It ’ s obviously an excellent filly who , without being a crack , does not tarnish the race record . Three of the first five are out of Camelot , a son of Montjeu -another great Arc winner- who would have won the Triple Crown if he had not found the enigmatic Encke in his path at the finish of the Doncaster St Leger . The other two are by Sea The Stars . The genes for stamina , for resistance in the effort , have spoken .
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FRANÇOIS DOUMEN
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It ’ s a bittersweet memory . My father took me to Auteuil to see a horse he had broken in called Mandarin . He had been his first trainer . As he was a late developer , he advised the Hennessys , his owners , to give him a little time . But then Mr Hennessy gave him to his wife and she wanted to send him to Fulke Walwyn and there you go ... I was a bit upset but it was also a lesson .
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Hyères III , I think . She also won the Grand Steeple three times ( between 1964 and 1966 ) and at that time , there were hardly any mares at that level . I especially remember the kind of invincibility that seemed to characterise her . We only talked about her because the Grand Steeple was still a huge event nationally . She was a big , strong mare who , if my memory serves me correctly , jumped a bit like Ucello . But that ’ s not to mention the horses I ’ ve trained . And I ’ ve been lucky enough to have a few champions in my yard ! The one who will always
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