16 March 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
Four horses ran in the Prix Troytown Chase (Gr3), Saturday at Auteuil, after Dalia Grandchamp (Kapgarde) was declared a non runner, but the two favourites made the most of it in a heated final that turned to the advantage of Storm of Saintly (Saint des Saints), winner by ¾ of length over Saint Goustan Blue (Blue Brésil), who was giving 11Lbs to his rival. The winner, trained by Guillaume Macaire for Jeannot Andt, had already made a comeback and he held on bravely despite a mistake at the redoubtable rail-ditch-and-fence. A front-running Saint Goustan Blue had however very well passed this obstacle, but he missed his next jump, the medium open-ditch, where he almost unseated his jockey James Reveley.
In short, the two champions still have accounts to settle for their next appearance on the road of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1).
The Prix Rush is a 3-year-old beginners' hurdle race recently won by future Group horses like Esmondo, Djagble, Echiquier Royal and Pic d'Orhy. Saturday's winner of the 2019 edition, Al Cuarto (Nicaron) proved himself to be far superior in the final stages. He went away in the run-in, leaving favourite Marchand de Venise (Martaline) 15 lengths behind. The latter made €90,000 at Arqana Autumn sale in 2017, bought by bloodstock agent Frédéric Sauque for the famous trotting trainer, Philippe Allaire. Al Cuarto is owned by Marie-Laurence Oget and Palmyr Racing, who also bred him. This is the last foal out of Vie Ta Vie (Villez), twice winner on the flat for trainer Éric Libaud and dam of the 11-year-old mare Caraline (Martaline), winner of seven races in France and in Great Britain, where she took another third place at the beginning of the month at Newcastle.
The Prix Auricula 3yo Beginners Hurdle race also ended in a duel between Aterisk (No Risk At All) and J'Halucele (Martaline). The stewards held an inquiry as the former leaned on her rival in the run-in but the result stood. Third-placed Grakownia (Barastraight) finished about twelve lengths behind the first two fillies.
Aterisk is trained by Guillaume Macaire for Francis Montauban and Palmyr Racing. She was bought 20 000 € at Arqana summer sales last July where she was consigned by the Ludovic Picard’s Haras de Cordelles. The filly was bred by Erick Bec de la Motte and François-Marie Cottin. Her dam Aspolina (Trempolino), bred by the Moussac’s Haras de Mézeray, won over hurdles at Auteuil and her bloodline comes from Brazil. She is also a sister of Astonville (Top City), winner of Grand Steeple-Chase d'Enghien (Gr2).