€390,000 Prix Serge Landon – Grand Prix d’Automne (Gr1): Losange Bleu reigns at 5

Auteuil, France – November 16, 2024 – Winner of the Prix Renaud du Vivier (Gr1) a year ago, at age 4, and winner of the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (Gr1) last May, Losange Bleu (Martaline) won again in the €390,000 Prix Serge Landon - Grand Prix d'Automne (Gr1), the autumn equivalent of the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, despite a potentially catastrophic mistake at the second-last hurdle.

The Papot family, breeder and owner of the winner, received the trophy from Catherine Vautrin, Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization. The three representatives of the No. 1 stable at Auteuil led almost the entire race, with the favorite Losange Bleu resolutely on the offensive. His trainer Dominique Bressou is now five times on the roll of honor of the race after the four successes of Galop Marin. The winner was coming off a third-place finish in the Prix Carmarthen Hurdle (Gr3), where he could not accelerate with Jeu de Thaix (Authorized) and Heloy Delabarrière (Choeur du Nord). Ridden prominently here, he dominated from start to finish, and if it were not for that mistake at the 15th hurdle, he would have won without difficulty. Here, he had to rally to win by more than a length over a valiant AQPS, Heloy Delabarrière, who finished second ahead of another AQPS, Hermès Baie (Crillon), also 7 years old.

Losange Bleu is out of Sweet Valrose (Cadoudal), twice placed over hurdles, at Enghien and Auteuil, at the age of 3, in the colors of Vicenzo Esposito. She then produced several winners before coming under the control of the Papot family. Losange Vert (Montmartre) was the first foal produced by this operation with this mare and distinguished himself by winning the Prix Duc d'Anjou (Gr3). After Losange Bleu, she produced Losange Vert Bleu (Night Wish), winner of his first two hurdle races last winter at Pau and recently fifth in the Prix Pierre de Lassus 3yo Hurdle (Gr3).

In June 2022 at Arqana, the maiden Vicenza Mia (Fuissé), a sister to Losange Bleu, was sold for €43,000 to Donal White in foal to Montmartre, now a yearling bred in Ireland.

What they said...

Dominique Bressou - trainer of Losange Bleu (1st) - based at the Dragey-Ronthon (50) and Maisons-Laffitte (78) training centre

“We are relieved. Before the race, we had doubts because, on October 19, Losange Bleu was overtaken by two horses he was meeting again. Today, we were favourites, but nothing is ever won in advance in this type of race. I thank the Papot family for supporting me, and congratulations to the team.”

Florent Bayle - jockey of Heloy Delabarrière (2nd)

“Heloy Delabarrière is running great. We don't have much to complain about. There was a lot of rhythm. The blinkers really helped me on the course. Opposite, he needed to breathe. It's a very good performance.”

François Nicolle - trainer of Hermès Baie (3rd) - based in Saint-Augustin (17)

“It's very good what Hermès Baie is doing. The Best horses remain the best on the day. He delivered a magnificent end to the race. With one more run under his belt to prepare for this race, the result could have been different.”