Ingré Chase History: In memory of a war horse

Sunday, 21 April 2024, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris) – The inaugural running of the €235,000 Grand Steeple-Chase Masters Ingré (Gr2) as a Group 2 was not short of drama right from the pre-race setup. Indeed, one of the race's top contenders, Général en Chef (Martaline), was declared a non-runner following a recalled start.

The favourite, Sel Jem (Masked Marvel), winner of the 2022 Grand Steeple and third at his seasonal debut over hurdles at Compiègne, was pulled up before the end of the first circuit due to an injury.

The six-year-old gelding Toscana du Berlais (Shantou) took advantage of the situation to return to winning ways, finishing more than four lengths ahead of the five-year-old Amy du Kiff (Kapgarde). The pace-setter, In Love (Great Pretender), held on to third place ahead of Grand Oncle (Saddler Maker), who pressed him to the end.

Owned by Écurie Hub de Montmirail, his breeder Haras du Berlais, and Equi Flore, Toscana du Berlais was rebounding from a fall in the Grand Steeple-Chase Masters Troytown (Gr3) as he was trailing at the back. He had previously finished third in the Grand Steeple-Chase Masters Clermont-Tonnerre (Gr3).

This victory marks a significant step up for Toscana du Berlais from handicaps to group race success.

Purchased for €35,000 at the Arqana February sales in 2011 by Guy Petit, as a barren eight-year-old mare, the winner's dam Katioucha (Mansonnien) hailed from a distinguished family. Already the dam of Aubusson (Saint des Saints), a Group 1-placed and Group winner, she raced only six times and won her final race after achieving several placings. She also produced the Cambacérès 3yo Hurle Race (Gr1) winner Nirvana du Berlais (Martaline), now a sire.

Following Toscana du Berlais, Katioucha has given Montana du Berlais (Martaline), who has raced twice unsuccessfully, the four-year-old Verona du Berlais (Kapgarde), currently in training with Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, and a two-year-old colt by Nathaniel.

History

In 1946, this name was given to a trial event for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Having just drawn a line under a glittering racing career at the age of 13, Ingré was at the time only the third horse to win Auteuil’s flagship event twice, the previous ones being Wild Monarch (1878, 1879) and Dandolo (1904, 1908).

The first Prix Ingré, held on 25 April 1946, was won by Jupin, who did not contest the Grand Steeple. Rameau, the second winner in 1947, was unable in the Grand Steeple to get the better of Lindor, who had only obtained a fifth place in the Prix Ingré. In 1948, however, this double was done by Ridéo. On the road leading to the Grand Steeple, therefore, the Prix Ingré serves as an important staging post, as evidenced by the names of numerous great jumpers that adorn its honours list.

After Ridéo, 14 other horses have triumphed in the Prix Ingré and the Grand Steeple in the same year. They are Hyères III (1966), Haroué (1968), Mon Filleul (1978), Isopani (1981), Sir Gain (1985), Oteuil SF (1987), Katko (1988, 1989), Ucello II (1994), Al Capone II (1997), Kotkijet (2001, 2004), Mid Dancer (2011), Bel La Vie (2013), Storm of Saintly (2014) and Milord Thomas (2015). Seven others have won both races, but in different years: Loreto (Ing 1961, Gd St 1963), Morgex (Ing 1971, Gd St 1972), Brodi Dancer (Ing 1983, Gd St 1984), Jasmin II (Ing 1984, Gd St 1983), The Fellow (Ing 1990, Gd St 1991), Ubu III (Ing 1992, Gd St 1995) and Mid Dancer (Ing 2009, Gd St 2007).

Five horses have won two Prix Ingré: Rameau (1947, 1949), Quo Vadis (1954, 1955), Katko (1988, 1989), Chamberko (1996, 1997) and Al Capone II (1997, 1999) and Kotkijet (2001, 2004).

(*) exceptionally in 2020, the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris took place in October due to the cancellations of the first semester at Auteuil, themselves due to the coronavirus epidemic. The Ingré Chase followed the trend to prepare, as usual, for the Auteuil classic: it was contested on Tuesday, September 23rd.

The race was promoted to Gr2 status in 2024.

Ingré

Born in 1932, this bay gelding sired by Hélion and foaled by Diplomée (Durbar) was bred at the Louvière stud farm in the Orne region by Paul Chamon. After becoming the property of a minor trainer from Maisons-Laffitte named Fernand Drouhard, he ran six times unsuccessfully at the age of 2, before winning a handicap as a 3-year-old. Trained over the jumps, he ran six times over the hurdles in the autumn, winning two races at Maisons-Laffitte and Auteuil. It was at the latter venue that he was spotted by the trainer Joseph Ginzbourg, who got Arthur Veil-Picard to buy him. And on 29 December, Ingré offered his new owner a victory at Nice.

As a 4-year-old, Ingré began focussing on the steeplechase discipline. On his first outing at Auteuil, he fell, but his jockey remounted to clinch third place, as there had only been four starters. Then came another fall at Enghien, but Ingré was gradually mastering his new trade. A victory at Enghien and three on the short steeplechase track at Auteuil were followed by two away-days, one of which ended victoriously in the Grand Steeple de Deauville at Clairefontaine, and the other with second place in the Gran Premio di Merano in Italy.

In 1937, at the age of 5, Ingré appeared to be at his peak. His first six starts brought five victories, including the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice, the Prix Murat (73.5 kilos) and the Grand Steeple by default, when he benefited from the demotion of Larringes, who had impeded after jumping the last obstacle. In the autumn, he made a victorious return to Auteuil carrying 73 kilos and also ventured across the Channel to acquaint himself with the jumps at Aintree. Arthur Veil Picard’s champion failed this dry run for possible Grand National participation by falling at the second jump, the Chair, where he allowed himself to brush the top.

At the age of 6, his entourage decided to forgo a second Grand Steeple (in which he would have had to carry a ten-pound overweight imposed on all former winners) and to instead focus his campaign on the Gran Premio di Merano, which his stablemate Empressor had lifted in 1937. He only re-emerged at Clairefontaine in August, winning on the flat and coming third in the Grande Course de Haies. Unfortunately, so tense was the international situation in September 1938 that taking the champion to Italy was deemed too risky. By way of consolation, Ingré garnered three successes at Auteuil and a second place in the Prix La Haye Jousselin.

In 1939, the decision was made to bid for a second Grand Steeple title despite the overweight. In the meantime, Ingré warmed up with five races and two victories (at Nice and Enghien), plus three places including a second spot in the Prix Murat carrying 75 kilos. Then, on 18 June, it was mission accomplished, as carrying 74 kilos, Ingré outstripped his stablemate Un Mitrailleur by four lengths in the showpiece event at Auteuil. But as he basked in glory, the outbreak of war resulted in the cessation of hostilities on the racetracks. Only a brief reprise in the spring of 1940 allowed Ingré to clinch a second Prix Murat carrying 74 kilos before the racing calendar was again interrupted.

For many old horses, the conflict resulted in them ending their career in the ignominy of exile, having fled the enemy armies and the Occupation. Before the assets of the Jewish owner were confiscated, Ingré was entrusted to the trainer Joachim Bédeloup, in whose silks he reappeared in 1941 and shone once more by taking third place in the Grand Steeple despite carrying that perpetual overweight, increased to twelve pounds that year.

In 1942, with Ingré now 10 years of age, Bédeloup was suspected of being a mere figurehead for a Jew and was forced to transfer the champion to a certain André Carré (based at Le Mans and holder of an amateur rider’s licence), who went on to exploit the former champion for four lucrative seasons. Between 22 March 1942 and 17 August 1945, Ingré was forced to take part in forty-three races, eleven on the flat and thirty-two over the jumps. For four long years, he slaved away on a dozen different racecourses, winning the Prix Claude de Langle at Craon twice. At Auteuil, he was lauded for his victories in the Prix Cher Tatoué (70 kilos), Prix Marescot and Prix Léon Olry-Roederer, but berated when he fell twice, in the Prix Murat and Prix Agitato; the sight of him again carrying the ten-pound overweight in finishing fifth in the Grand Steeple at 11 years of age generated indignation, while his finish the following year in the same position, but mercifully without that overweight, provoked only sadness. It proved to be his fifth and final participation.

At the ripe old age of 13, on 10 April 1945, Ingré changed owner again. Sold at the request of the Administration des Domaines, he was purchased by the trainer Horace Haes, who oversaw his final four outings. The last of these, his 110th race, took place on 17 August at Enghien, where he made up the rear in a small field of seven starters. He had worn out one of his posterior tendons, but the two anterior ones were still as right as rain! Over the course of his career, he accumulated twenty-eight wins and twenty-nine places in seventy-nine jumps races; and three wins and six places in thirty-one sorties on the flat. The great solidity of his legs and his exceedingly good temperament – he never refused a jump – were the key factors that resulted in the delaying of a well-earned retirement that, for most jumps horses, comes a lot earlier. That was the price he had to pay for being a gelding and an impeccable performer.

On his return to France, the son and son-in-law of Arthur Veil Picard (died 1944) bought Ingré back. At the stables of Joseph Ginzbourg (who had also returned), he was reunited with the same box and same lad. Every day, he would go for a joyous little gallop on a track at Maisons-Laffitte. One morning, at the grand old age of twenty-two, he crumpled to the ground.

N.B. Extracts from the book Auteuil hier and aujourd'hui (volume 2, 1916-2003) by Guy THIBAULT (Editions du Castelet).

Owners

• Marquesa de Moratalla (3 wins): The Fellow (1990), Ubu III (1992), Ucello II (1994).
• Jean Stern (2 wins): Le Radar (1951), Florianet (1960).
• Pierre Delafosse (2 wins): Quo Vadis (1954, 1955).
• Henry de Blonay (2 wins): Crésus (1965), Le Vermandois (1973).
• Pierre de Montesson (2 wins): Katko (1988, 1989).
• Gérard Margogne (2 wins): Chamberko (1996, 1997).
• Robert Fougedoire (2 wins): Al Capone II (1997, 1999).
• Daniel Wildenstein & Ecurie Wildenstein (2 victoires): Kotkijet (2001, 2004).
• Sean Mulryan (2 wins): Cyrlight (2006), Or Noir de Somoza (2008).
• Pegasus Farms Ltd (2 wins): Mid Dancer (2009, 2011).
   

Trainers

• Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé (6 wins): Sunny Flight (2003), Cyrlight (2006), Or Noir de Somoza (2008), Mid Dancer (2009), Perfect Impulse (2017), Toscana du Berlais (2024).
• André Adèle (5 wins): Yasco (1964), Crésus (1965), Camarero (1967), Le Vermandois (1973), L’Amenokhal (1974).
• Bernard Sécly (5 wins): Mon Filleul (1978), Katko (1988, 1989), Al Capone II (1997, 1999).
• Guillaume Macaire (5 wins): Bel La Vie (2013), Storm of Saintly (2014), As d'Estruval (2016), Edward d'Argent (2018), Feu Follet (2022, with Hector de Lageneste).
• François Doumen (4 wins): The Fellow (1990), Ubu III (1992), Vorétin (1993), Ucello II (1994).

Riders

• Christophe Pieux (4 wins): Chamberko (1996, 1997), Cyrlight (2006), Wisborough (2007).
• René Bèche (3 wins): Jupin (1946), Ike (1950) et Quo Vadis (1954).
• Jacques Ricou (3 wins): Or Noir de Somoza (2008), Mid Dancer (2009), Milord Thomas (2015).