Renaud du Vivier : Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Photo scoopdyga.com
A little more than a year ago, Pic d'Orhy (Turgeon) finished second to Beaumec de Houelle in the Prix Cambacérès 3yo Hurdle (Gr1), the main hurdle race for 3-year-old jumpers, beating L'Autonomie (Blue Brazil). Since then, "Beaumec" left to stud, and Pic d'Orhy left to Britain, where he immediately ran to the best level, at the Cheltenham Festival, The Mecca of the British jumps circuit, for a crack at the Triumph Hurdle, the 4-year-ols hurdlers' championship, in March. He didn't work out very well.
It was like asking any of us to sprint on Mars without a space suit. The jumps in England are very different from the ones we know in France, and particularly at Auteuil. They require an adjusting time which, when respected, allows the French jumpers to win the biggest British events. As they do.
Pic d'Orhy returns to Auteuil eight months after that failed beginning across the Channel, on the course he first made up his reputation, to face again L'Autonomie, who has since become the big boss of the young ones, in the €250,000 Prix Renaud du Vivier Hurdle (Gr1).
L'Autonomie is trained by François Nicolle. She has won her last three races, including two Group 3 races this season, and her breeder-owner Catherine Coiffier can look forward to seeing a true champion race in her colours.
It is however the same rating as Feu Follet (Kapgarde), who returns to hedges where he excelled before missing his conversion to the steeple, where the representative of Pierre Pilarski has tried to make a name.
Seven rivals will not leave them with a free pass. In this same race, champions like Blue Dragon, De Bon Coeur and Master Dino, before them Maia Eria, Or Noir de Somoza, Questarabad and Bel La Vie won, where Zaiyad, Kasbah Bliss and Cyrlight were beaten ...
Also on Sunday at Auteuil, the Prix Sytaj (Gr3) is dedicated to the 4 and 5 year old females chasers.