Clermont-Tonnerre : Poly Grandchamp fires first
Photo scoopdyga.com
Fourth in the La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) in November and third in the Grand Prix de Pau Chase (Gr3) for his only winter outing, the 8-year-old gelding Poly Grandchamp (Poliglote) scored pretty confidently on Monday at Auteuil, in the €135,000 Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre Chase (Gr3), the first Parisian step leading to the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1).
Trained by François Nicolle for the Papot family, Poly Grandchamp took the lead in the backstretch and stayed on to remain out of Enjeu d'Arthel (Saddler Maker)'s reach. The latter was always pointed near the leaders. Sainte Saône (Saint of Saints) made a spectacular effort entering the last turn and finished third, far ahead of 4th-placed Kapdam (Kapgarde).
It was the 27th race of Poly Grandchamp, and only his second win at Auteuil, his first at Group level. He is now approaching €430,000 in earnings.
The horse was bred in the Orne by Jean-Louis Guérin. He is the first foal out of Qualia Grandchamp (Nikos), a hurdle winner at Fontainebleau and Compiègne before going to stud. After "Poly", she gave Dalia Grandchamp (Kapgarde), winner of five races for more than € 550,000 in earnings, a winner of the Edmond Barrachin Chase (Gr3) at Auteuil at 4 for the same connections as her older brother, and third in the La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) in 2018. More recently, Qualia Grandchamp gave two Kapgarde sons born in 2018 and in 2019.