€135,000 Hope Aguado (Gr3): Nietzsche Has straight to the point

Sunday, 19 May 2024, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). The odds-on favourite in the first major 3-year-old event over the Auteuil hurdles, the €135,000 Prix Hope—Prix Aguado 3yo Hurle Race (Gr3), Nietzsche Has (Zarak) remained unbeaten in three starts with a composed performance. Making his debut beyond 2m, he took control in the run-in, getting the better of front-runner Rooster Crowing (Chanducoq), who finished a good second, one and a half lengths behind, after finishing 5th and then 3rd to the winner.

Kivala du Berlais (Saint des Saints) finished well to take third place, four and a half lengths further back.

The race was initially led by Sonybill (Battle of Marengo), who attempted to hold on but stumbled after jumping the penultimate hurdle. Nietzsche Has had already begun his move along the back straight, joining the leaders as they approached the final turn and he was moving forward without much suspense left.

#Auteuil Grand fav, le 3ans Nietzsche Has (Zarak) ⬜️🟧reste invaincu en 3 sorties sur les haies d’Auteuil dans le Prix HOPE Aguado (Gr3) pour l’entraînement de Marcel Rolland et la casaque d’Edward James. pic.twitter.com/NdBs1xgg2R

— France Galop (@francegalop) May 19, 2024

Winner of the Prix Rush 3yo Hurlde race on debut in March, followed by victory in the Prix Go Ahead 3yo Hurdle  (L) over the same 1m7f distance, the victor was bred by Hamel Stud. He was sold for €240,000 in July by The Channel Consignment at the Arqana sales, where he was purchased by bloodstock agent Guy Petit. His dam, a maiden, is a full sister to the talented Nirvana du Berlais (Martaline) and Toscana du Berlais (Shantou), winner of the Prix Ingré (Gr2) and a contender in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris on the same day as this triumph by Nietzsche Has.

Nietzsche Has is owned by new British owner Edward John James, for whom this is currently the only horse in training in France.