€355,000 Maurice Gillois 4yo Chase (Gr1): Kaadam on his own

Auteuil, France – November 17, 2024 – A strong favourite for the €355,000 Maurice Gillois – 4yo Chase (Gr1) after dominating the two prep races this autumn, Kaadam (Saint des Saints) once again found himself in the lead almost despite himself after crossing the Stand's Riverjump. His rivals gathered to challenge him in the final stages, but the representative of de Simon Macauley, Écurie Hub de Montmirail and Andrew Peake pulled clear after the last fence to win by six and a half lengths. Always well placed, the AQPS Kentucky Wood (Balko) took a very good second ahead of one of the pacesetters, Royal Saga (Choeur du Nord), and Kolokico (Cokoriko), winner of the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1) in the spring.

Kaadam won on his debut in April 2023 at Bordeaux over hurdles. A winner the following September at Auteuil on his chasing debut in the Prix Weather Permitting Beginners'Chase, then in the Prix Congress 3yo Chase (Gr2), he has returned to his best for his second autumn campaign at Auteuil.

The colt was born in May 2020 in Mayenne. His dam, Fiestine (Martaline), bred by the Chassagneux family and trained by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, also raced for Richard Corveller. She won four consecutive races, including her chasing debut at Enghien, before finishing fifth in the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Gr1) won by Kotkikova. She had won the Prix Roger Saint (L) over the Enghien steeplechase course the previous autumn and then notably finished third in the Prix Sytaj (Gr3). Her brother Le Philanthrope (Doctor Dino), born in 2022, was sold for €48,000 at the 2023 autumn sales in Deauville and was purchased by Equos Racing International.

Kaadam is the third foal out of Festine after Daradame (Kapgarde) and Kahsdam (Kapgarde), who won the Prix Triquerville (L) over the Auteuil steeplechase course this season. Two Doctor Dino fillies followed.

Quotes from the Connections

Bertrand Le Métayer (representing Ecurie Hub de Montmirail, co-owner of Kaadam, 1st) - Royan (Charente-Maritime): "Gaëtan Masure rode him with confidence, taking him wide, which allowed him to have better ground. That's not insignificant. He was perhaps a little less sharp than on his last win, but that's to be put in relation to the moderate pace and the ground. He did just whatever was necessary. It's for this reason that he will be able to go further. We're thinking of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris with him..."

Gaëtan Masure (rider of Kaadam, 1st): "I rode him like the boss that he is, choosing to position myself on the outside so that he had room to manoeuvre. He wins a little less decisively than last time, but the track is very testing."

François Nicolle (trainer of Kentucky Wood, 2nd) – Royan (Charente-Maritime): "He ran tremendously well! He arrived late in training for the autumn, and I chose to run him on the flat at Saint-Brieuc to prepare for this race. I racked my brains... I told his rider, Angelo Zuliani, to ride him more for a place than the win. We will run in the consolation race, where we won't have to face Kaadam. He's going to age well."

Dominique Bressou (trainer of Royal Saga, 3rd) – Dragey Training Center (Manche): "I'm really super happy with his performance today because I was a bit disappointed last time when he fell. Today, he jumped well, and it's a good performance!"