10 April 2021
Photo scoopdyga.com
Saturday, April 10, 2021, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - Three of the five entries in the Murat Chase (Gr2), run on a rainy day and a deep ground, were supported by the punters: Feu Follet (Kapgarde), because of his Clermont-Tonnerre Chase (Gr3) win in March, Docteur de Ballon (Doctor Dino) as the Grand Steeple and La Haye Jousselin Chases winner, and Ajas (No Risk At All), so convincing in the Troytown Chase (Gr3) three weeks ago. Finally, the latter prevailed without dodging any bullet. He took over the lead going to the River, with a complete lap to go. The Ulf Sjoberg homebred 7-year-old led the field towards the rail-ditch-and-fence, where Feu Follet, 3rd at this stage, lost some ground. As for Docteur de Ballon, he was slowly getting ready to roll and the three favourites were together to get into the final bend. In the run-in though, Ajas never looked really challenged, except maybe about a furlong out, when Bertrand Lestrade pushed Docteur de Ballon to test his rival. But they soon gave up and Ajas won by less than a length, but easy enough. Eleven lengths behind, Feu Follet finally lost 3rd place to Eddy de Balme (Cachet Noir).
The race to the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is on with a 3rd potential rival to that leading duo, Le Berry (Gemix), a stablemate of Ajas at David Cottin's yard in Chantilly who is still unbeaten over fences and will probably be a major player, come May 23rd over the big race 6,000m / 3m6f.
La mère d’Ajas, Seraglio (Singspiel), a gagné un bumper à Market Rasen, en Grande-Bretagne, avant d’entrer au haras. C’est une sœur de gagnants sur la PSF et en haies.
La sœur aînée d’Ajas, la seule à ce jour d’après le site de France Galop, Goddess Freja (Kapgarde), aujourd’hui âgée de 8 ans, n’a pas trouvé acquéreur en novembre dernier à Arqana à 25 000 €, pourtant pleine de Zarak. Elle avait gagné à Pau en haies et à Moulins en steeple, et avait donné le jour en 2020 à un mâle par No Risk At All, ¾ frère d’Ajas.
Ajas' dam Seraglio (Singspiel) won a bumper in Market Rasen before entering stud. She is a sister to several all-weather and hurdle winners.
Ajas's older sister, the only one to date according to the France Galop website, Goddess Frija (Kapgarde), now 8, did not find a buyer last November at Arqana at € 25,000, even though she was in foal to Zarak. She had won at Pau over hurdles and Moulins steeplechasing, and in 2020 gave birth to a colt by… No Risk At All!