Berjou masters timing in Grand Prix

Sunday, January 10, 2021, Cagnes-sur-Mer. - The 7-year-old Berjou (Holyromanemperor) unseated his regular rider Nicolas Gauffenic on Christmas day in the Prix du Comté de Nice Chase (L). Therefore, Nathalie Desoutter partnered him to defend his title two good weeks later in the top Cagnes-sur-Mer chase, the historic Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice Bernard Sécly Chase (Gr3). At the last jump, the representative of Christian Trecco, trainer David Windrif and Gerome Salussolia was still very late on the 8-year-old AQPS Diamant Brut (Voix du Nord), who had just taken over from his elder Cafertiti (Fairly Ransom ). But in the last few meters of the 2m7f trip, contested on a yielding track, Berjou managed to pick up his challenger to finally win by ¾ of a length.

Berjou was bred by Franklin Finance, that is Gérard Augustin-Normand, for whom he raced over the flat before being claimed by Christophe Escuder, who trained him happily in this discipline for six months, until his new connections bought it in another claimer, in January 2018. Berjou is now trained by David Windrif. He rose through the ranks and in particular finished third in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (Gr1) nearly eight lengths behind Bénie des Dieux but less than two lengths behind De Bon Cœur in '19. He then failed three times in the second half of the season at Auteuil but clearly regained form on the Riviera before winning his first Grand Prix de Nice in 2020. Subsequently, he appeared twice at Auteuil, then finished the autumn with a third place in the Prix Léopold d'Orsetti Hurdle (Gr2) at Compiègne.

Bernières (Montjeu), Berjou's dam, was born in 2008 and a Listed winner, beating the future Arc winner Solémia, in September at 3 … A brother to Berjou by Dream Ahead, sold in December in Deauville, as a weanling, for € 35,000, is in training with Mikel Delzangles, followed by another colt by Castle du Berlais, bred by Franklin Finance.

In addition to the € 100,000 Nice Grand Prix, which now also pays tribute to the late champion trainer Bernard Sécly, the other important races of this last gala day over Cagnes's jumps offered a total of € 143,000 in prize money. The Grande Course de Haies de Cagnes (L) was won by the 7-year-old Tenerife Sea (No Risk At All) for owner-trainer Pierre Fertillet. It was the mare's third win this winter at Cagnes after six months away. The 4-year-old hurdle race, the Prix André Massena (L), went to Petit Nice (Top Trip), owned by the Pigonis and his trainer Richard Chotard, based in Calas near Aix en Provence.

The best 4-year-old chase, the 2m3f Christian de L'Hermite Chase (L), went to Highlands d'Allier (Cokoriko), who was a maiden before that, for his 5th outing. He's racing for Ecurie Top and his trainers, Philippe Peltier and his daughter Camille.