8 November 2018
Photos scoopdyga.com
Sunday at Auteuil was the second day of the "Jumps' 48 hours" , the grey AQPS Bipolaire (Fragrant Mix) won another Prix La Haye Jousselin (Gr1), the Autumn "Grand Steeple". Ridden by Jonathan Plouganou (his regular rider Thomas Gueguen was suspended for the weekend), the François Nicolle trainee fought hard to beat the front-running challenger Saint Goustan Blue (Blue Brésil), unbeaten over the bigger obstacles until then. Bred in Nièvre by Jacques and Thierry Cyprès, Bipolaire runs for Jacques Détré, François Seigneur, Edward Walsh and Thierry Cyprès. He hadn't won again chasing since his previous success in the same race, a year ago, and had unseated his rider early in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Finely tuned for this event, he was able to make his move entering the last turn to join a spotless Saint Goustan Blue who never let go. Milord Thomas (Kapgarde) also came by in the last 5 furlongs and finished a good third after having won three editions of the La Haye Jousselin Chase between 2014 and 2016 for American owner Magalen Bryant, who was at Auteuil on Sunday to support her colours.
The 7 runners of the Prix La Haye Jousselin arrived unscathed.
The 2017 renewal of the Prix Maurice Gillois (Gr1), the 4yo Grand Steeple, went to On the Go, who also won the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) six months later. This time the filly Cicalina (Santiago) won it for tyrainer Guillaume Macaire and owners Jacques Bisson, associated to the Allard family and the trainer's Palmyr Racing, but she was bred in Germany and bought €5?000 at the Baden-Baden yearling sales.
Ridden by Bertrand Lestrade, the filly took over the leaders in the back straight and almost got rid of her rider at the last hurdle of the back straight. She however held on to beat a good finishing Epi Sacré (Secret Singer). Unbeaten cghasing until then, Eddy de Balme (cachet Noir) lost the 2nd place in the end after challenging the winner a good while.
3yo Beaumec de Houelle (Martaline) tightened his grasp on the 3yo hurdling crown by winning the Prix Cambacérès (Gr1), the 3yo Championship. Trained by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, the grey colt belongs to famous trotting trainer Franck Leblanc, who's also bred him and is now associated to JDG Bloodstock. It was his 5th victory at Auteuil ion 6 races there. Ridden by Pierre Dubourg, he beat his arch rival Pic d’Orhy (Turgeon), who had led most of the race along with Pat du Pont (Cokoriko). The only filly in the race, L’Autonomie (Blue Brésil) finished well in third.
Franck Leblanc bought Beaumec de Houelle's dam Zandalee (Trempolino), winner of four jumps races for Guy Pariente with trainer Yannick Fouin, for €20,000 in December 2013 at Arqana breeding sale. After Beaumec, Zandalee gave a 2yo Poliglote filly in training with Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé and a Martaline colt.
The Prix Fondeur CHase (L) is an important race for 5yos only. Burn Out (Saddler Maker) beat Polygame (Poliglote) by a nose after almost vacating his rider Bertrand Lestrade jumping the big open-ditch. Both bhorses fought all the way to the post. Burn Out had finished 3rd in the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1) last year behind Srelighonn and Dalia Grandchamp, and then 5th in the Prix Maurice Gillois (Gr1) won by On The Go, a year ago.