Cambacérès : Nothing beats Nirvana
Photo scoopdyga.com
Nirvana du Berlais (Martaline) annihilated the field in the final phase of the €250,000 Prix Cambaceres 3yo Hurdle (Gr1), Sunday at Auteuil on the second consecutive meeting held in the Jump's 48 hours. This is a second consecutive victory in the Parisian classic for trainer Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, who also saddled the 2018 edition's winner, Beaumec de Houelle, also by the great French sire Martaline.
It was, however, a first Group 1 victory for co-owner Hubert Mauillon, associated with the colt's breeder, Jean-Marc Lucas' Haras du Berlais.
Nirvana du Berlais passed the post 14 lengths ahead of Kool Has (Martaline), For Fun (Motivator) finishing third at two lengths, ahead of Sangennaro (Poliglote), fourth.
The winner had already won at the best level on Auteuil's hurdles in the spring, beating For Fun in the Prix Aguado Hurdle (Gr3) in June. He is a brother to Aubusson (Ballingarry), who is in Great Britain and came to Auteuil last year to run the Grand Prix d'Automne (Gr1) but is more successful in handicaps, nowadays. Their sister Triana du Berlais (Presenting) has won the Prix Edmond Barrachin Chase (Gr3) and the Prix Bournosienne Hurdle (Gr3). Their dam Katyusha (Mansonnais) was third in the Prix Finot Hurle (L) at age 3.
She recently gave a 2yo Shantou brother to Nirvana named Toscana du Berlais, and another son of Martaline born in 2019.