PRIX LA HAYE JOUSSELIN - Toscana du Berlais gives Haras du Berlais its first “La Haye Jousselin”
Press Release Sunday, 16 November, 2025
48H DE L’OBSTACLE – Auteuil
PRIX LA HAYE JOUSSELIN
Toscana du Berlais gives Haras du Berlais its first “La Haye Jousselin”
This was an outcome nobody really expected… and a very pleasant surprise for the Hub de Montmirail stable, jockey Pierre Dubourg, and co-trainers Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé and François Pamart!
At seven years old, Toscana du Berlais (Shantou) finally secured his first Group 1 success — and he did it straight away in France’s biggest autumn steeplechase, the Prix La Haye Jousselin!
Despite a name that might suggest otherwise, the horse is a gelding, and he produced a performance worthy of the very best Flat horses, literally leaving his four remaining rivals standing in the run-in with a devastating turn of foot.
He came home six lengths clear of the admirable Kolokico (Cokoriko) — remarkable for his courage after a massive mistake at the rail-ditch-and-fence — who held off Gold Tweet (On Est Bien) to the line. Without his fall at the double-barrier (the penultimate obstacle), Kaadam (Saint des Saints) would very likely have fought for victory as well.
The Lucas family’s Haras du Berlais has won almost everything at Auteuil. By Sunday morning, two major trophies were still missing: the Prix La Haye Jousselin and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. One of them can now be crossed off the list!
Official Result
PRIX LA HAYE JOUSSELIN
1st TOSCANA DU BERLAIS (Pierre DUBOURG)
2nd KOLOKICO (James REVELEY)
3rd GOLD TWEET (Clément LEFEBVRE)
Time: 7’19’’00. Distances: 6 – 1 – 3 1/2 – 4.
Reactions from the connections
Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, co-trainer of Toscana du Berlais, 1st (Royan, Charente-Maritime)
“I’m very happy for the horse and for his connections. But I’m very disappointed for Kaadam. Had he not fallen, I think we would have finished first and second. Toscana was magnificent, but I must admit it’s a bit surprising for me. Despite his fall, Kaadam still showed he belongs among the very best.”
Hubert Mauillon (Ecurie Hub de Montmirail), co-owner of Toscana du Berlais, 1st
“This is my greatest victory! Toscana is always there, always brave… and the ground suited him perfectly. He was prepared to perfection for the big day, as Arnaud [Chaillé-Chaillé] knows how to do. The whole team did a tremendous job and I want to thank them. And let’s not forget this is the first win for the Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé / François Pamart partnership. I’m particularly happy for François — he’s extremely dedicated, he works very hard, and that’s how you achieve results like this. It’s fantastic.
(…) Finally, I want to add a word of support for our jockeys. I’m thinking of Nicolas Gauffenic, Tom Lefranc, Gaétan Masure… It’s very tough for them. So when I hear they are forced to take out personal insurance policies, I wish the Institution would help them more in these situations. We need to think about better supporting and protecting them. I want to send that message because they take huge risks. As a friend recently said: ‘When they jump the rail-ditch, they throw their heart forward and must retrieve it on the other side.’ That perfectly sums up the risks they take for us.”
Marc-Antoine Lucas, co-breeder with his father Jean-Marc of Toscana du Berlais, 1st (Valence-en-Poitou, Vienne)
“It’s not the same story as Leopard, but he had long deserved his Group 1. Toscana is a warrior. There were so many champions in the race. Jump racing can bring wonderful surprises. Winning the Prix La Haye Jousselin is incredible. It’s the first one for Haras du Berlais! I’ve been waiting for it for a long time… We still have the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris to go. That’s exactly why we started breeding horses for this type of race. For the Berlais, this will remain an extraordinary day, especially when you add Leopard’s victory in the Cambacérès. I’m also very, very, very happy for Hubert Mauillon, who started out with my father. He thoroughly deserves to own a crack like Toscana — unfazed, huge-hearted, and an excellent jumper.”
Lord Daresbury, co-owner of Kolokico, 2nd
“It’s wonderful to be involved with this horse. He made a big mistake on the far side. To still finish second was an achievement. We’re very, very happy — it’s truly a privilege to have a horse like him. Apart from that error, he’s a very good jumper and we look forward to coming back for the Grand Steeple in May. He actually likes good ground, and we’re going to enter him in the King George…”
Gabriel Leenders, trainer of Gold Tweet, 3rd (Jarzé, Maine-et-Loire)
“He’s an extraordinary horse. I really thought he might do it. But on this kind of ground, he’s a little less sharp than usual; his finishing kick isn’t quite the same. Still, he ran very, very well. I’m very happy!”
Photo Credit: Scoop Dyga
