€225,000 Congress 3yo Chase (Gr2): Hacker du Berlais online again

Auteuil, France – November 16, 2024 – A winner for the first time on his fifth hurdle start last May at Lion d'Angers, Hacker du Berlais (Doctor Dino) made his chasing debut four months later to take second place in the Weather Permitting 3yo Beginners' Chase at Auteuil. He was beaten that day by Lecoeurdeshommes (Jeu St Éloi), whom he met again here, as did the third-place finisher from that race, the AQPS Lauthentyko (Pour Moi).

This time, it was the €225,000 Prix Congress 3yo Chase (Gr2), regarded as the "Grand Steeple" for 3-year-olds. In the meantime, Hacker du Berlais had won two consecutive steeplechases, including the Prix Noiro (L), by ten lengths last time out.

He never seemed to be in any real difficulty here, and took over from Lauthentyko at the decisive moment to win by 3.5 lengths. Not so fluent during the race, the third-placed Apollon de Luy (Kapgarde) left some regrets two lengths behind.

Hacker du Berlais was bred, as his name indicates, by Jean-Marc Lucas at Haras du Berlais. He comes from one of the best families of the stud since his dam Hilton du Berlais (Saint des Saints) won the Prix André Michel (Gr3) over hurdles at Auteuil. She is a sister to the excellent Madison (Indian River), Houston (Mansonnien), and Jameson du Berlais (Royal Charter), all out of Anaïs du Berlais (Dom Pasquini), whose dam Irona (Iron Duke), acquired at stud by Jean-Marc Lucas, is the second dam of Cokydal and Master du Berlais. The fourth dam of Hacker du Berlais is the dam of the influential jumps sires Mont Basile and Saint Preuil.