€580,000 La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1): Gran Diose wins 2nd French Grand Steeple

Auteuil, France – November 17, 2024 – The 2024 edition of the €580,000 Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1), the "Grand Steeple of the Autumn," brought together most of the ingredients that delight fans of Auteuil. With four Group 1 winners at the start, including the defending champion Grandeur Nature (Lord du Sud) and his runner-up Gran Diose (Planteur), winner of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) last May, the winner of the 2022 Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle (Gr1) and the 2023 King George VI Chase (Gr1) Il Est Français (Karaktar), and Juntos Ganamos (Martaline), winner of the 2023 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1), the race promised to be exciting.

The first dramatic moment was the exit, at the second waterjump, of the top challenger, Diamond Carl (Diamond Boy), who fell without consequence. Then, before jumping the main obstacle of the course, Il Est Français lost his action and was pulled up. The other leader, Juntos Ganamos, was then overtaken by Gran Diose, who took the lead after jumping the rail-ditch-and-fence and found himself alone in front, pursued by Grandeur Nature, and further back Juntos Ganamos, who was recovering. The two pursuers briefly looked like they might catch the leader, between the last two jumps, but the representative of Olivier Hinderze and Luc Monnet kicked clear again and won by five lengths from the defending champion, who had beaten him a year earlier. Juntos Ganamos, after a good effort between the last two fences, could not resist Grandeur Nature and finished third, six lengths behind, thirty lengths ahead of the fourth-place finisher, In Love (Great Pretender).

Bred by his owners, Frédéric Hinderze and Luc Monnet, Gran Diose is trained by Louisa Carberry in Senonnes. Gran Diose returned this season with a fifth-place finish in the Prix Troytown (Gr3) in March, before taking third place in the Prix Murat (Gr2) and winning the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. At age 8, he had a comeback run in the Prix Héros XII (Gr3), which resulted in a reassuring fourth place behind Juntos Ganamos, Diamond Carl, and Toscana du Berlais before this new top-level triumph.

Gran Diose is the first foal out of Noanoa (Walk In The Park), bred by Frédéric Hinderze, and a winner of two handicap hurdle races at Auteuil at age 4 but who did not race again after that season. She has also produced Canichette (Prince Gibraltar), a winner at Auteuil and in the Prix de La Gascogne (Gr3) at Compiègne but who fell three times at the beginning of the year, then a Motivator filly born in 2021 and still unraced, and finally a full brother to Gran Diose born this year.

Quotes from the Connections

Louisa Carberry (trainer of Gran Diose, 1st) – Senonnes-Pouancé Training Center (Mayenne)

"Once he had jumped the first two or three fences, I saw that the partnership between my horse and Thomas Beaurain was working, and I said to myself that this would give them confidence. Gran Diose only reached maturity last year. He has remained in great form since his victory in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. He arrived at the top of his game. I am spoiled to have had two champions like Docteur de Ballon and Gran Diose. Many trainers hope all their lives to have horses like them."

Frédéric Hinderze (co-owner of Gran Diose, 1st)

"He is exceptional. All the credit goes to my partner Luc Monnet, who decided to breed his dam to the stallion Planteur. Louisa Carberry made the best decision by calling on Thomas Beaurain to replace Clément Lefebvre. He rode him superbly, and we are delighted to offer him his first Group 1 victory."

Nicolas de Lageneste (owner of Grandeur Nature, 2nd, and co-owner of Il Est Français, pulled up)

"What made the difference today was probably the ground. Gran Diose was faultless, but it's true that on heavier ground, Grandeur Nature might have finished closer. But he really put in an excellent performance. We should see him again in the Prix Georges Courtois. As for Il Est Français, his health problems caught up with him. He had a pulmonary haemorrhage. He is fragile in that respect. We are going to give him the necessary treatment. His rider, James Reveley, looked after him and pulled him up at the right time."

Felix de Giles (rider of Juntos Ganamos, 3rd) – Chantilly Training Center (Oise)

"He could have won without his mistake at the rail-ditch-and-fence. It cost him dearly."

Hugo Merienne (trainer of In Love, 4th) – Chantilly Training Center (Oise)

"He found himself a bit isolated and likes to follow other horses. It's not necessarily his cup of tea. He didn't like being attacked on the last turn, but he ran well. He's a super jumper who can gallop for miles. He may try his luck in England."