€220,000 Georges Courtois Chase: Gran Diose, Lord of Compiègne... and Auteuil!

December 3, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – The €220,000 Prix Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) is the traditional final curtain falling on the Parisian jumping season, usually run on heavy ground. The favourite Gran Diose (Planteur), winner of the Grand Steeple de Compiègne (Gr2) last time out, came by the front runner Doctor Squeeze (Doctor Dino) about halfway and took over at the second last flight. Eddy de Balme (Cachet Noir), who'd always stalked the leaders, came by after the last, and he managed to take an edge on Grand Diose, who nevertheless came back in the final strides to prevail by a short neck.

Doctor Squeeze did well, staying on in third at 20 lengths.

Bred by his owners Frédéric Hinderze and Luc Monnet, Gran Diose is trained by  Louisa Carberry. Now 6-years-old, he ran only 17 times and bagged, breeders premiums included, €545,680… It was his fifth win, his first at this level at Auteuil, where he hadn't showed up since November 2021 and his win in the Prix Jean Laumain Handicap under 11st 5lbs. In between, he won three races at Compiegne, including the local Grand Steeple.

Gran Diose is the first foal out of Noanoa (Walk in the Park), a mare bred by Frédéric Hinderze who won two hurdling handicaps at Auteuil at 4 but did not race again the following season. She also gave Canichette (Prince Gibraltar), a 5-year-old mare also trained by Louisa Carberry and a winner chasing at Angers, also third at Auteuil since then, whe beaten by 7 lengths by the good Ladyville. A Motivator filly was born in 2021 2021.