€163,000 Héros XII Chase (Gr3): Juntos Gamanos back to his good self
Photo scoopdyga.com
Auteuil, France – October 19, 2024 – This time, Juntos Ganamos (Martaline) jumped flawlessly. When he does so, he certainly deserves to start as the favourite for his comeback in a race like the €163,000 Prix Héros XII Chase (Gr3), one of the traditional final prep races for the Prix La Haye Jousselin (Gr1).
The representative of Alain Jathière led from the start, 153 days after unseating his rider in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at the big open ditch, and he comfortably held off his nearest challenger, Diamond Carl (Diamond Boy), who passed this new test at the highest level with flying colours. Diamond Carl had come into the 2022 Prix Maurice Gillois 4yo Chase (Gr1) unbeaten over fences but finished second to Gessy Raiselle and did not race again for nearly two years. Always in or near the leading group, Toscana du Berlais (Shantou) continues to be a consistent performer. At the same time, Gran Diose (Planteur), winner of the last Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris and making his comeback here, kept a very encouraging fourth place despite a decisive mistake at the open ditch on the backstretch.
The distances at the finish were insignificant: nearly two lengths between the first two, then 2.5 lengths and another three lengths to Gran Diose.
With two horses making their comebacks, finishing first and fourth, and another returning from a long layoff, the La Haye Jousselin Chase, to be run in four weeks on November 17, is wide open, with another current star of French steeplechasing, Il Est Français, also in the mix.
Bred by Magalen Bryant, Juntos Ganamos is out of Usted Me Cara (Turgeon), a winner of a handicap hurdle race at Auteuil and four hurdle and chase races at Pau. He was sold in May 2022 for €45,000 to Highflyer Bloodstock.