21 September 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
September, Auteuil
Prix de Compiègne Hurdle Race
Group 3, 5-year-olds and above, Hurdle race, 3,900m/19.5f, €84,000
Created in 1970
Last winner: L'Autonomie (f5, FRA by Blue Brésil ex L'Automne, by Kahyasi), owned by Catherine Coiffier, bred by Catherine Coiffier, trained by François Nicolle, ridden by Angelo Zuliani.
The race is run in 2021 for the 52nd time
The 2020 edition
Tuesday, September 22, 2020, Auteuil. - Autumnal return of the best French hurdlers at Auteuil, the Compiègne Hurdle Race (Gr3) was the scene of a new demonstration of L'Autonomie (Blue Brésil), who won for her comeback this season, over 19.5f, for the eighth consecutive time ...
Bred by Catherine Coiffier, the 5-year-old mare led from the start, followed like a shadow by the winner of the last two editions of the race, Galop Marin (Black Sam Bellamy), also his senior by three years, who was carrying 11lbs, whereas the favourite was carrying 9lbs. She beat him by some nine lengths, though, that she finally put between herself and him by the time she crossed the wire, 5-year-old Porto Pollo (Manduro), her stablemate at François Nicolle's, inserting himself in second place at eight lengths, he who won the La Barka Hurdle Race (Gr2) in her absence and here confirmed his "second-best" status.
El Gringo (Kamsin) avoided early fights and finished fourth at twelve lengths.
More than ever, L'Autonomie is the big favourite of the two main French hurdling events this Autumn, the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (Gr1), over 5,100m (25.5f) on October 17, and the Grand Prix d'Automne Hurle Race (Gr1), on November 29 over 3m.
L’Autonomie is out of L’Automne (Kahyasi), winner of a single flat race in 18 attempts and claimed € 12,000 by Catherine Coiffier after finishing seventh for her last public appearance. Her dam L'Authie (Linamix), a sister of the Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1) 3rd Cléty (Sillery), finished third of the Prix Renaud du Vivier Hurdle (Gr1) and notably gave La Canche (Le Havre), a Listed-placed over the flat.
After L’Autonomie, L’Automne gave two Diamond Boy colts. The elder, now a gelding, was sold for € 30,000 to John Daniel Moore at Arqana Summer sales in 2018.
History
Previously held as a split handicap, the Prix de Compiègne became a conditions race in 1970 so as to serve as a trial for the Grand Prix d'Automne. In 2011, the name was changed in honour of Bertrand du Breuil who died on March 24th of that year, but his name was removed in 2012 at his family’s request and in 2013 was transferred to a Group 3 flat race, the former Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord, which is run at Chantilly. François Saubaber, the first winner, set the tone and the race has continued to bring together some fine horses. It has been run over two distances: 2 miles 2 furlongs from 1970 to 1974, 2 miles 3 ½ furlongs from 1975 to 1987, 2 miles 2 furlongs again in 1988 and back to 2 miles 3 ½ furlongs since 1989.
Just one horse has won the race three times: Gold Magic (2003, 2004 and 2005). However, 6 horses have succeeded in winning it twice: Hardatit (1973, 1974), Great Mist (1977, 1978), King Mister (1992, 1993), Mon Romain (1997, 1999), Questarabad (2009, 2010) and Galop Marin (2018, 2019).
The Prix de Compiègne and the Grand Prix d'Automne
No less than 5 horses have been victorious in both these events in the same year. They are Rose or No (1990), Mon Romain (twice, in 1997 and 1999), Le Sauvignon (2000), Questarabad (2009 and 2010) and Galop Marin (2018, 2019). Two others have done the double but in different years. They are Hardatit (Gd. Px. Aut. 1971, Comp. 1973 and 1974) and Gelas (Comp. 1982, Gd. Px. Aut. 1983).
Owners
- Daniel Wildenstein (3 wins): Arrondi (1971), Paiute (1981), World Citizen (1984).
- Eugène Letendre (3 wins): Gold Magic (2003, 2004, 2005).
- Charles Sweeny (2 wins): Hardatit (1973, 1974).
- Mme Léon Volterra (2 wins): Great Mist (1977, 1978).
- Mme Pierre Biancone (2 wins): King Mister (1992, 1993).
- Mme Michel Daugreilh (2 wins): Mon Romain (1997, 1999).
- David-James Jackson (2 wins): Le Sauvignon (2000), Vitray (2011).
- Mme Roger Polani (2 wins): Questarabad (2009, 2010).
- Mme Patrick Papot (2 wins): Galop Marin (2018, 2019).
Trainers
- Jean-Paul Gallorini (4 wins): World Citizen (1984), King Mister (1993), Gold Magic (2005), Coralhasi (2008).
- Marcel Rolland (4 wins): Mon Romain (1999), Questarabad (2009, 2010), Lord Prestige (2013).
- René Pelat (3 wins): François Saubaber (1970), Hardatit (1973, 1974).
- François Doumen (3 wins): Ubu III (1991), King Mister (1992), Kasbah Bliss (2007).
- Gérard Philippeau (3 wins): Young Serenader (1972), Highello (1980).
Riders
- Christophe Pieux (6 wins): Gold Magic (2003, 2004, 2005), Cyrlight (2006), Kasbah Bliss (2007), Vitray (2011).
- Patrice Lemaire (2 wins): Paiute (1981), Gelas (1982).
- Roger Duchêne (2 wins): World Citizen (1984), Gacko (1986).
- Adam Kondrat (2 wins): Ubu III (1991), King Mister (1992).
- Régis Schmidlin (2 wins): Questarabad (2009, 2010).
- Morgan Regairaz (2 wins): Galop Marin (2018, 2019)
Two female-riders won the race: Anne-Sophie Madeleine with Mon Romain (1997), Nathalie Desoutter with Coralhasi (2008).