Auteuil sets the stage for the big battles ahead

Auteuil sets the stage for the big battles ahead ! 

With one month to go before the major jumps weekend, Auteuil is already getting down to business. This Sunday, April 19, the Butte Mortemart will host a full-scale rehearsal ahead of the Group 1 races scheduled for May 16 and 17.

Before the stars take centre stage, the spotlight will be on the rising talents with the Prix Wild Monarch for fillies (1:58pm) and colts (3:08pm). These races offer a first look at 3-year-olds who could quickly make a name for themselves, as they have consistently produced top performers in recent years.

The meeting will then step up a gear with four Group races, featuring highly anticipated clashes and key pointers for the rest of the spring. The Group action begins with the Prix Jean Stern (Group 2) at 3:43pm. With Métronomique absent, the race looks wide open among the leading 4-year-old chasers. Shannon Maestro, an impressive winner of the Prix Fleuret (Gr3), will aim to confirm his progress against rivals keen to turn the tables.

Just over half an hour later, at 4:28pm, all eyes will be on Losange Bleu and Thélème in the Prix Léon Rambaud (Group 2). Two top-class hurdlers, both proven at the highest level, meeting for the first time. A clash that already promises to be one of the highlights of the day.

At 5:03pm, the Prix du Président de la République (Group 3) will test the runners over Auteuil’s demanding 4,700 metres. Only eleven will go to post, but the famous Rail Ditch and Fence – the track’s ultimate test – could once again prove decisive. The prize: a place in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1).

The tension will remain high with the Prix Amadou (Group 2) at 5:28pm. Léopard du Berlais, eager to bounce back after losing his unbeaten record, meets Edamura again, who impressed strongly when they last faced each other. Revenge or confirmation, the outcome promises to be fascinating.