ENGLISH VERSION
BY PAUL-ROLAND CASABIANCA
For more than three years, the Huez have been making their mark in AQPS racing. Bred by Jean-Pierre and Pascal Canu, better known in the trotting world, Kamaro d’ Huez and Mondialito d’ Huez shone at Group 1 level on the Flat before proving their worth over jumps. A look back at the beginnings of this new dynasty. Once upon a time there was Cime d’ Huez: an AQPS mare who won twice over fences at Le Pertre. On paper, the mare who carried the colours of the Pernon / Canu stable had nothing of a champion about her. After retiring to stud, the daughter of Le Balafré made a successful second career as a broodmare. Her first foal, Kamaro d’ Huez( Montmartre), would become her first winner.“ Jean-Pierre Canu came to see me at the yard just after I had set up in 2022,” says Élisabeth Allaire, his trainer.“ He suggested I go into partnership with him on Kamaro d’ Huez. The first gallops were really nice. He was still a colt when he started on the Flat. He had his own character, he was a bit of a rascal, but very expressive and already very professional over obstacles.” Together, they got off to a winning start – at Group level, and at the very highest level. In 2023, Kamaro d’ Huez was crowned best 3-year-old AQPS in the Prix Jacques de Vienne( Gr. 1), before proving his worth at Auteuil.“ We gelded him at the end of his 3-year-old season,” his men- tor continues.“ Since then, he has won two Group 3s over jumps at Compiègne. He was given a holiday this autumn, as I didn’ t want to take on the five-year-olds and up. He has a bit of character and I didn’ t want him running in big fields, but he’ s doing very well.” His half-brother out of the same mare, Mondialito d’ Huez( Mondialiste), is also doing very well. Crowned best 3-year-old AQPS after winning the Prix Jacques de Vienne( Gr. 1) last year, Cime d’ Huez’ s second foal was never beaten in four starts on the Flat.“ He is less precocious over obstacles than his older brother,” Élisabeth Allaire goes on.“ He made a late reappearance over hurdles, but showed big improvement on his second start, finishing second to a highly regarded colt. They are quite different, but what they have in common is that they give their all on the track. They are horses who give everything and never give up. He will be back out in the Prix Oeneas( Class 2) at Auteuil on 14 November.” With the aim of opening his account at Auteuil.
A TEAM EFFORT Before welcoming Cime d’ Huez’ s third foal, a daughter of Goliath du Berlais, to the yard, Élisabeth Allaire pays tribute to all the groundwork done by the Canu family as breeders and by their pre-trainer:“ Or d’ Huez is currently with Paul Batista, who does pre-training five minutes from my place. I’ ve had the chance to see her, and she is truly magnificent – a real princess. I think the mare produces genuinely good foals. She will arrive at the yard sometime in November. It will all depend on her temperament, but if she has the same class on the Flat as her brothers, she will start on the Flat. Credit must go to the Canu family for their excellent work, because it all starts with the breeding. The breaker also plays his part in their success. I live nearby, which means I can see them and ride them regularly during pre-training. We make a good team and, I’ ll say it again, everyone is doing a great job.” And the results prove it: 28 runs, 14 wins( including 3 at Group 1 level on the Flat and two Group 3s over jumps) and 13 placings for Cime d’ Huez as a broodmare. As you will have gathered, the“ Huez” saga is scaling the heights – and it is only just beginning.
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