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Gontaut-Biron History: A Summer encore

14 August 2020

Gontaut-Biron History: A Summer encore

photo scoopdyga.com

August, Deauville

Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club


Group 3, 4-year-olds and up, 2,000m/1m2f, €56,000

Created in 1919

 

Last winner: Skalleti (g5, FRA by Kendargent ex Skallet, by Muhaymin), owned by Jean-Claude Seroul, bred by Guy Pariente, trained by Jérôme Reynier, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot.

Record-time: 2’1’’1, Rusticaro (1979, also the course record)

The race is run in 2021 for the 102nd time

The 2020 edition

Saturday, August 15, 2020, Deauville. - Beautiful duel at the finish of the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Gr3), as the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) 2019 and the Prix Ganay (Gr1) more recently, Sottsass (Siyouni), was giving 6lbs to Skalleti (Kendargent), his best rival on paper and in the betting ring.

Coming from the rear on a heavy turf that allows him to give the best of himself, the grey Skaletti ran on Sottsass, who had travelled in fourth in a field led by Mr Satchmo (Mr Sidney) and Subway Dancer (Shamardal). The verdict remained indecisive but the longer the fight was going on, the more Skalleti was in a position to get an edge thanks to his favourable weight situation. Jean-Claude Seroul-owned finally won by a neck while behind the first two home, at four lengths, Motamarris (Le Havre) took third place over a brave Mr Satchmo.

Bred by Guy Pariente, sold €85,000 at Deauville to owner Jean-Claude Seroul's agent Alain Decrion, Skalleti is out of Skallet (Muhaymin), a Listed-winner in Bordeaux. She also gave Skalleto (Kendargent), a Listed-placed for Guy Pariente, a gelding 4yo gelding, Skazino (Kendargent), winner of 7 races, including 2 main handicaps lately. She also gave a Kendargent colt last year.

History

This race was first run in 1919 to honour the memory of an eminent member of the committee of the Société d’Encouragement. Originally open to 3-year-olds and their elders, it was restricted to 4 year-olds and over from 1958. The distance, which was a mile in 1919, was increased to a mile and a half between 1920 and 1954 and extended to a mile 5 furlongs in 1955. Reduced to 10 furlongs in 1956 and 1957, it was put back to a mile and a half from 1958 to 1963 before being restored to 10 furlongs from 1964. Not run in 1940 due to war, the race was transferred to Maisons-Laffitte during Deauville’s closure in 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1945, and to Auteuil in 1944. The race has been associated with the Hong Kong Jockey Club since 2009.

The Prix Gontaut-Biron's honours list features some very good horses, such as Grillemont (1922), Cerfeuil (1925), Aethelstan (1926), Hotweed (1930), Astronomer (1934), Ping Pong (1935), Kilette (1950), Lacaduv (1951), Vamos (1952), Montaval (1956), Etwild (1959), Sheshoon (1960), Hautain (1961), Frontin (1964), Sigebert (1966), Caldarello (1967), Frontal (1968), Grandier (1969), Iron Duke (1977), Gairloch (1978), Rusticaro (1979), General Holme (1983), Urban Sea (1993), Hernando (1994, 1995), Carling (1996), Lord of Men (1997), Dream Well (1999), Vision d'Etat (2010) and Cirrus des Aigles (2011).

Numerous foreign horses have come to take part in the Prix Gontaut-Biron. And as the following list shows, their efforts have often born fruit: Liberty Truck (1962), Shoemaker (1970), Boreen (1972), Ksar (1974), Record Run (1975), Gairloch (1978), Bedtime (1984), Arc (1987), Emmson (1989), Corrupt (1992), Lord of Men (1997), Running Stag (1998), Carnival Dancer (2003) and Echo of Light (2007).

Antoine de Gontaut-Biron (deceased in 1917)

The descendant of an old family that owned the Château de Biron (near Monpazier in the Dordogne), Antoine de Gontaut-Biron occupied a key place in the world of racing. He raced several horses under his own colours (yellow jersey & sleeves and black cap) and was appointed to the Société d’Encouragement committee in 1884. He was also a race steward from 1890 to 1896, accomplishing the same duties from 1885 within the Deauville Société des Courses, of which he was also a committee member, as he was of the Société de Sport de France. In Deauville, there is a street named after him.

The Prix Gontaut-Biron's honours list features some very good horses, such as Grillemont (1922), Cerfeuil (1925), Aethelstan (1926), Hotweed (1930), Astronomer (1934), Ping Pong (1935), Kilette (1950), Lacaduv (1951), Vamos (1952), Montaval (1956), Etwild (1959), Sheshoon (1960), Hautain (1961), Frontin (1964), Sigebert (1966), Caldarello (1967), Frontal (1968), Grandier (1969), Iron Duke (1977), Gairloch (1978), Rusticaro (1979), General Holme (1983), Urban Sea (1993), Hernando (1994, 1995), Carling (1996), Lord of Men (1997), Dream Well (1999), Vision d'Etat (2010), Cirrus des Aigles (2011), New Bay (2016), Talismanic (2018) and Olmedo (2019).

Numerous foreign horses have come to take part in the Prix Gontaut-Biron. And as the following list shows, their efforts have often born fruit 16 times already thanks to Liberty Truck (1962), Shoemaker (1970), Boreen (1972), Ksar (1974), Record Run (1975), Gairloch (1978), Bedtime (1984), Arc (1987), Emmson (1989), Corrupt (1992), Lord of Men (1997), Running Stag (1998), Carnival Dancer (2003), Echo of Light (2007), Petit Chevalier (2013) & First Sitting (2017).


Owners

  • Ralph-Beaver Strassburger (3 wins): Berthe (1948), Montaval (1956), Rumesnil (1957) ;
  • Mahmoud Fustok (3 wins): Nemr (1981), Great Substence (1982), Over the Ocean (1986).
  • Niarchos Family (3 wins): Hernando (1994, 1995) for Stavros and Dream Well (1999) for Niarchos Family.
  • Khaled Abdullah (3 wins): General Holme (1983), Cross Harbour (2009), New Bay (2016).
  • Époux Stern (2 wins): Saint Souplet (1919), Hautain (1961) for Jean, Frontin (1964), Sigebert (1966) for his widow, Claude.
  • Edouard de Rothschild (2 wins): Nephthys (1921), Paix des Dames (1937).
  • Alexandre Aumont (2 wins): Cerfeuil (1925), Minestrone (1933).
  • Georges Wildenstein (2 wins): Grock (1929), Bièvres (1932).
  • Henri Coulon (2 wins): Folio (1931), Samovar (1936).
  • Mrs Léon Volterra (2 wins): Vamos (1952), Cariellor (1985).
  • Sir Robin McAlpine (2 wins): Jefferson (1971), Ruffle (1988).
  • Godolphin (2 wins): Echo of Light (2007), Talismanic (2018).


Trainers

  • André Fabre (6 wins): Cariellor (1985), Agol Lack (2000), Slew the Red (2001), Cross Harbour (2009), New Bay (2016), Talismanic (2018).
  • Alec Head (4 wins): Kilette (1950), Frère Georges II (1953), Sheshhoon (1960), Folkestone (1973).
  • Max Bonaventure (3 wins): Hautain (1961), Frontin (1964), Sigebert (1966).


Riders

  • Roger Brethès (4 wins): Rabican (1927), Ping Pong (1935), Samovar (1936), Morosini (1941).
  • Alfred Gibert (4 wins): Jefferson (1971), Nemr (1981), Great Substence (1982), Arc (1987).
  • Olivier Peslier (4 wins): Agol Lack (2000), Slew the Red (2001), Carnival Dancer (2003), Vision d’Etat (2010).
  • Albert Sharpe (3 wins): Saint Souplet (1919), Almaviva (1924), Cerfeuil (1925).
  • Guy Duforez (3 wins): Folio (1931), Minestrone (1933), Chateauroux (1943).
  • Jean Laumain (3 wins): Palais Cardinal (1939), Capielluca (1947), Fleury (1949).
  • Léon Flavien (3 wins): Hautain (1961), Frontin (1964), Sigebert (1966).
  • Maurice Philipperon (3 wins): Caldarello (1967), Grandier (1969), Ruffle (1988).
  • Bryan Taylor (3 wins): Record Run (1975), Gairloch (1978), Bedtime (1984).
  • Yves Saint-Martin (3 wins): Larkhill (1976), Rusticaro (1979), Armistice Day (1980).
  • Cash Asmussen (3 wins): Urban Sea (1993), Hernando (1994, 1995).
  • Thierry Thulliez (3 wins): Carling (1996), Wellbeing (2002), Atlantic Air (2006).