Goliath now reigns on his own
Photo scoopdyga.com
Goliath du Berlais (Saint des Saints) dominated from one end to another in the Prix Fleuret 4yo Chase (Gr3), Sunday at Auteuil. The representative of the Szwarc family immediately took the lead, jumped impeccably all the obstacles on the 4,400 metres-long trip, and left Bel Apsis (Apsis), who tried to challenge him going into the final straight, at four lengths. Altus (Saint of Saints) finished third five lengths further down.
The main challenger of the winner until now, Polirico (Cokoriko) jumped awkwardly and was left trailing the field.
Goliath du Berlais was bred by Jean-Marc Lucas. The colt is owned by Haras d'Etreham (his sire is based there), Stéphane Szwarc and Palmyr Racing, the stable of Guillaume Macaire, his trainer. Goliath's dam, King's Daughter (King's Theater), was bred by Gerard Samama, who lost her in a claimer after a win on the flat. She was owned since then by Jean-Marc Lucas and trained by Robert Collet. She won six races over jumps including the Prix Bournosienne (Gr3) at Auteuil, where she also finished fourth in the Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle Race (Gr1) behind Royale Athenia and Zaiyad.
After Goliath, King's Daughter gave a male and a female by Muhtathir and a Saint des Saints filly.
Also trained by Guillaume Macaire and ridden by Bertrand Lestrade, 4yo Frisson d’Estruval (Saint des Saints), bred by the Le Gentil family, easily won the Prix Alcide Hurdle race. In the Prix Air Landais Chase (L), dual Grand Steeple winner So French (Poliglote) did not go on after his recent Fontainebleau win as he finished only 6th. Eventful finish, however, as both the horses saddled by Anne-Sophie Pacault, Spirit Sun (Zambezi Sun) and Carriacou (Califet), finished first and second despite veering to the outside after the last jump.
Another 1-2 on Sunday, for trainer Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé this time in the Prix Général de Rougemont Hurdle Handicap (L) as Amour du Mathan (Saint des Saints) beat stablemate Fan de Blues (Poliglote).
Click here to read our reports on the two winning beginners in Prix Géographie and Grandak Hurdles races, in our « Maiden winners » reports for March…