Compiègne Hurdle: Hermès Baie always above

September 24, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – Ridden by Bertrand Lestrade, the 5-years-old AQPS Hermès Baie (Crillon) confirmed his ruling over the French hurdlers inaugurated by his Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle, Gr1) success. For his comeback, he flew away the Prix de Compiègne Hurdle race (Gr3), like L'Autonomie (Blue Brésil), Device (Poliglote), Nikita du Berlais (Poliglote) or Questarabad (Astarabad) before him.

Held up in the early part of the race, Hermès Baie took over going off the final bend and left the field without any reaction. Eight lengths down the field, his stablemate at François Nicolle's, another 5-years-old named Roberta Has (Saints des Saints) took second place by overcoming Folsom Prison (No Risk At All).

Hermès Baie was bred by André-Jean Belloir near Mont-Saint-Michel. The winning dam Ludmika (Murmure), had a short but lively racing career with Yannick Fertillet with three outings over the flat for two wins and a third place. She became a great broodmare at stud with seven foals by the only Crillon, including Hermès Baie, the best by a long way of the family with Dress Baie (Crillon), a winner of four races. Hermès Baie's full brother, named I Love My Baie (now 4), was sold for £80,000 at Goffs in Doncaster last May. Exported to Ireland and trained there by Colin Bowe, he won for his debut at Perth in a bumper by 2.5 lengths.

The dam Ludmika has had two fillies now 3 and 2 by Tiger Groom (Arazi) and a Puit d’Or (Sadler's Wells) yearling colt. A Nom de D’La (Lost World) colt was born on July 6th.