€174,000 Georges de Talhouët-Roy 3yo Hurdle Race (Gr2): Kivala du Berlais enters the fray

Auteuil, France – October 13, 2024 – Second at Auteuil in April in the Wild Monarch 3yo Hurdle on his debut, then third in the Aguado 3yo Hurdle (Gr3) on his second attempt, Kivala du Berlais (Saint des Saints) had lost again, but this time while making the running, on his return against Djin's (It's Gino) in the Robert Lejeune 3yo Hurdle (Gr3). He, therefore, carried the base weight at the start of this Prix Georges de Talhouët-Roy (Gr2), while Djin's, the favourite Nietzsche Has (Zarak), and Apollon de Luy (Kapgarde) conceded two kilos for the first two, and one kilo for the third.

However, Kivala du Berlais did not let anyone else do the hard work for him. He travelled at the head of the field alongside Nietzsche Has, taking his place on the outside of the track on the backstretch after three of his opponents had successively fallen at the Haie du Pavillon and at the beginning of the Ligne des Fortifications, where eventually after Djin's, the outsider Moty Marc (Motivator) was lost.

There were then three of them to tackle the final turn, with Rooster Crowing (Chantducoq) leading the way, Nietzsche Has and "Kivala" grappling, followed by a formidable Saint d'Esprit, and Apollon du Luy a little behind in this breakneck race.

In the final straight, the Haras du Berlais graduate, owned by Stephane Szwarc, gradually took over, and Saint d'Esprit came to settle Nietzsche Has, who finished third ahead of Apollon du Luy.

Kivala du Berlais is out of the unraced Kadika (Poliglote), a mare bred at Haras des Coudraies and descended from the family of Kotkijet, Kotkito, Kotkita, etc. Nicolas Bertran de Balanda bought her Nirvana du Berlais filly as a foal last December at Goffs for €75,000.