20 January 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
The favorite Forthing (Barastraight) did not leave much hope for his six rivals, Sunday on Pau racecourse in the 132nd renewal of the Grand Prix de Pau Biraben Foie Gras - Prix André Labarrère Chase (Gr3), the main event of the Winter meeting with €145,000 in prize money.
Ridden by Geoffrey Ré and trained by David Cottin, three times winner of the race as a rider, Forthing won the race two years ago for American owner Magalen Bryant, with the same jockey but for trainer Isabelle Pacault.
Always close in the leading group, the chestnut gelding took the lead going into the final bend and was no longer really threatened, the gray mare Sainte Turgeon (Turgeon) finishing well in second with Nathalie Desoutter seven lengths behind. The only mare in the race, Sainte Turgeon had just discovered Pau racecourse and was again given a very cautious race. She always followed the leading group completed by her two stablemates for the Papot team, Poly Grandchamp (Poliglote), who slipped and unseated his rider Jonathan Plouganou as they were turning foir the back straight, and Amirande (Astarabad), who lost third place in favor of a patient Arlequin d'Allier (Voix du Nord).
The next top events scheduled at Pau come on Friday, February 1 with the Prix Camille Duboscq (L), the top 4yo Hurdle race, and on Sunday, February 3 with the Grand Cross de Pau-Reverdy, Prix Gaston de Bataille (L), the Prix du Haras de Saint-Vincent - Prix Antoine de Palaminy (L), that is to say the 4yo "Grand steeple", and finally the 132nd Grande Course de Haies de Pau - Prix Antoine de Ginestet Hurdle (L).