Prix Léon Olry-Roederer : In the shade of the grey mares
Photo scoopdyga.com
The two 5-year-old mares at the start in the Prix Léon Olry-Roederer Hurdle race (Gr2), both gray, beat their five opponents on Sunday at Auteuil in a last clash of the top hurdlers this term.
The front runner Rafffles Sun (Poliglote) challenged the favourite Paul's Saga (Martaline) to the post, but finally obliged in second, beaten three quarters of a length. Her stablemate Srelighonn (Martaline), also running for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, finished third after a brief challenge going to the last.
Trained by David Cottin for Gérald Laroche, who leased her from his her form her breeders Philippe Ouvry and Haras des Vives Terres, Paul's Saga a sister to Siljan's Saga (Sagamix), winner of the Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr2) and several times placed at Gr1 level, winner of nearly €1.3m. Winner of the Grande Cours ede Haies de Printemps Handicap Hurdle (Gr3), Paul's Saga failed in the Grande course de haies d'Auteuil (Gr1) but she closed the season with a second place in the Prix Christian de Tredern Hurdle (Gr3) and won this season the Prix Carmarthen (Gr3) on October 13, beating Galop Marin, who avenged himslef in the Grand Prix d'Automne Hurdle (Gr1) where Paul's Saga finished second.