1 April 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
The 5-year-old gelding Called to the Bar (Henrythenavigator) took the lead, on Monday, April 1 in the Listed Prix Right Royal at Chantilly, over his rival and his elder Holdthasigreen (Hold That Tiger) to win by a neck after a hot fight. The two stayers met for the third time and the cadet now leads 2 to 1 as he beat Jean Gilbert and Claude Le Lay's chestnut for the second time, seven months after their first meeting in the Prix Gladiateur (Gr3) in Deauville. On even weights, Holdthasigreen took revenge on Fair Salinia's horse just two months later in the Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1) at Chantilly.
After both blowing their candles on January 1, they found themselves in Chantilly with, once again, a two kilos' allowance for Called to the Bar, who took an edge. They finished three lengths ahead of the good 4yo Mahoe (Doctor Dino), still a maiden but already a black-type performer.
The two stayers could make the headlines again during the season as they are bound to use the same path now.