€280,000 Renaud Vivier 4yo Hurdle (Gr1): Losange Bleu has last laugh
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, 26 November 2023, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - Odds-on favourite Losange Bleu (Martaline) led from start to finish in the €280,000 Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle (Gr1). Competing under the colours of the Papot family, who also bred him, Losange Bleu affirmed his dominance in the final Group 1 race of the year in France.
Just three weeks earlier in the Pierre de Lassus 4yo Hurdle (Gr3), the Dominique Bressou-trained gelding had impressively avenged his defeat to Whymper (Maxios), who had previously bested him in the Maisons-Laffitte 4yo Hurdle (Gr3), where Losange Bleu had only managed a fifth-place finish for his seasonal come back. Earlier in May, Losange Bleu had to settle for second in the Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle (Gr1), won by Gala Marceau, a French-bred filly trained in Ireland.
Of the contenders in the Alain du Breil, only Lou Fast (Rajsaman) lined up again here, with the main threat coming from the AQPS filly July Flower (Pastorius), a newcomer on a winning streak at Auteuil. Trained by Mickaël Seror, July Flower briefly threatened between the last two hurdles, attempting to challenge the favorite. However, Losange Bleu decisively regained the lead on the flat, winning by over two lengths. Japon (Vision d’État), utilizing a tactically efficient run, clinched a clear third place, nine lengths behind.
Losange Bleu's dam, Sweet Valrose (Cadoudal), placed twice in hurdle races at Enghien and Auteuil at the age of three, racing for Vicenzo Esposito. She subsequently produced several winners before coming under the Papot family's ownership. Losange Vert (Montmartre), her first foal with this breeder, distinguished himself by winning the Duc d'Anjou 4yo Chase (Gr3). After Losange Bleu, she foaled Losange Vert Bleu (Night Wish), a 3-year-old yet to debut and currently trained by Dominique Bressou, like his elder brother.