1 May 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
April 30, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). -It has been a difficult day for favourites at Auteuil with Latino des Isles, Sel Jem, L'Autonomie and now Kyrov (Dark Angel) all beaten as the latter had to settle for sixth in the Prix Amadou 4-year-olds' Hurdle race (Gr2). The Alain Jathière-owned sure had 8 pounds to give for having dominated this field before, but that only cannot explain this defeat.
The two only fillies to have joined the fray, on the other hand, went well above the boys in the final stages. Hawai du Berlais (Martaline), beaten earlier this season by Kyrov and then Ine Anjou, showed her true colours here when taking over a tough West End Girl (Great Pretender), who'd fallen in the Pépinvast 4yo Hurdle in which Hawai du Berlais recently finished 2nd. First led by Imprenable (Chœur du Nord), finally 5th, and then by West End Girl, the race didn't prove decisive until the last straight. In the run-in, the winner eventually proved much better as she left West End Girl at over 2 lengths, while one and a half length behind, Norville (Air Chief Marshall) finished well to take third place just ahead of You’re the Boss (Karaktar), always in the mix throughout, in front of Imprenable and Kyrov, who simply failed to stay on and finished sixth …
Hawai du Berlais was bred by Jean-Marc Lucas, at the Haras du Berlais. She's the second foal out of Hilton du Berlais (Saint des Saints), a Group 3 winner over hurdles at Auteuil too, and the dam of another Martaline filly now 3 and in training with Yannick Fouin. Two Doctor Dino colts follow.