€185,000 La Barka Hurdle (Gr2): Jeu de Thaix reaches new heights

Saturday 8 June 2024, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – The favourite, Jeu de Thaix (Authorized), dominated the €185,000 Prix La Barka Hurdle (Gr2), the final hurdling summit of the season at  Auteuil, in his first attempt at this level and distance of 2m5f. Winner of the Prix de Craon (Gr1-AQPS) over the flat in September 2023, he remains unbeaten in four hurdle races. Bred by Michel Bourgneuf, representing the Papot family associated with the trainer Daniela Mele, he set a strong pace alongside his rival Jeune Roi Bleu (Buck’s Boum). He maintained his lead to win by four lengths over Le Philosophe (Doctor Dino). Six One (Hunter’s Light) finished well, five lengths behind, along with Haut les Cœurs (Saddler Maker) and Heloy Delabarrière (Chœur du Nord), who made a mistake when the race heated up.

Jeu de Thaix is out of Victoire de Thaix (Voix du Nord), runner-up in the Prix Glorieuse, which is now a Group 2-AQPS race. He is her fourth and best offspring to date. Following Jeu de Thaix, she produced Kent de Thaix (Cokoriko), exported to Ireland, Légende de Thaix (Goliath du Berlais), and Magister de Thaix (Ivanhowe), born in 2022.