14 March 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
This edition of the d'Indy 4yo Hurdle (Gr3), run behind closed doors at Auteuil on Saturday, March 14, 2020, was the first victory at this level for trainer Anne-Sophie Pacault. Her Grand Messe (Network), bred in the Allier by her owner, Nicolas de Lageneste's Haras de Saint-Voir, dominated the grey Moises Has (Martaline) in the run-in. The latter had won his last two races and was also coming back from his Winter spell. Grand Messe was running for the third time in her career after having won first time out in October at Auteuil ahead of Grâce Féline (Balko), a good fourth this time. She then finished third in Haras d'Etreham - Prix Bournosienne (Gr2) behind Want of a Nail, who was giving 6lbs, and ... Grâce Féline!
The race was led freely by the winner of the Prix Camille Duboscq 4yo Hurdle (L) this winter in Pau, Caroubier (Kap Rock), who was unable to keep up, in the end, leaving his pursuers Grand Messe and Moises Has to argue for the spoils two out. After a low-key running, For Fun (Motivator) finished well in third, nine lengths behind the second-placed, himself beaten almost two lengths.
Grand Messe is out of Ulyssia Royale (Poliglote), winner of four races over hurdles and steeplechase at Auteuil for Winning stable (Samuel Blanchard). She switched flags in March 2014, at 6, to join Haras de Saint-Voir and race three times with trainer Jehan Bertran de Balanda. Grand Messe is her third foal before a 3-year-old colt by Network and a No Risk At All yearling colt.
Ulyssia Riyale's dam is none other than the champion mare Ma Royale (Garde Royale), second in the Prix Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle (Gr1) and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) for owner Magalen Bryant and trainer Marcel Rolland. At stud, she gave eight foals, Ulyssia Royale, bred by Marie-Laure Besnouion, being the first one just before Viviane Royale (Poliglote), who won the Prix Bournosienne Mares' Hurdle (Gr3), and in total more than € 233,000. Ma Royale was mated exclusively to Poliglote (four times) and Martaline (three times) before giving her latest foal to date, Jasmin Royal (Montmartre), bred in 2019. A 3-year-old filly by Martaline is in training with Marcel Rolland, along with her full brother Espoir Royal (Martaline), a winning 6-year-old gelding.