5 February 2017
crédit-photo : scoopdyga.com
6yo Forthing won the Grande Course de Haies de Pau (L) only two weeks after prevailing in the local Grand Steeple, a feat only previously achieved by the great El Triunfo back in 1991...
Sunday, February 5th, Hippodrome du Pont-Long (Pau). - Winner of the Grand Prix de Pau (Gr3) on January 22nd, 6-year-old Forthing (Barastraight) managed to double up in the top local hurdle race, the Grande Course de Haies de Pau-CCI Pau-Béarn (L). Bred in Maine-de-Loire by Ingrid Desagnat and owned by Magalen Bryant, he took a short head on his stablemate at trainer Isabelle Pacault's yard and favorite Christmas Rose (Montmartre), a 5yo AQPS until then undefeated in 3 outings over the Pont Long's hurdles this season. Only one other horse managed to win the Pau Winter meeting's top two races, and that was El Triunfo in 1991, who went on to winthe Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) in 1992.
The Grand Cross de Pau-Prix Gaston de Bataille (L), the meeting's to cross-country, went to Disco d'Authie (Discover d'Auteuil), also trained by Isabelle Pacault for Magalen Bryant. Disco d'Authie was raised in the Pas-de-Calais by Guy Cherel, also co-owner of the horse, and Pierre Rougegrez.
A handful of Grand Prix de Pau also-rans were gathering in the Prix Gaston Phœbus and Mali Borgia (Malinas), who unsetaed his rider in the big race whilst he was still well in the mix, avenged himself by 9 lentghs for trainer Philippe Cottin. The Grand Prix runner-up Vieux Morvan (Voix du Nord), however, could not press his claim here as he fell at the main open-ditch.
Three meetings are left on the Pau Winter schedule until the closing date on February 19th.