7 March 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
The best finisher in the Duc d'Anjou 4yo Chase (Gr3), first high-level chasing test for 4-year-olds this year at Auteuil, on Saturday March 7, King Edward (Martaline) had never won before. Owned by breeder Louis Baudron and Nicky Bertran de Balanda (NBB Racing), and trained by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, he had only completed two chases before that, run five times at Auteuil, and six times altogether. He had started his career a year ago in the Prix d'Essai des Poulains over hurdles at Compiègne. That day, he finished second to Falstaff and ahead of For Fun. The former went on to win the Prix Robert Lejeune Hurdle (Gr3) at Auteuil ahead of the latter, who, for his part, then finished third in the Cambacérès 3yo Hurdle (Gr1)!
King Edward, who has not been gelded, waited for the final straight to make his move on a heavy track (4.9 at the penetrometre since the day before). Winner of the Congress 3yo Chase (Gr2), Dream Wish (Dream Well) held a 8lbs penalty and he didn't duck in, taking the lead from the start. He didn't jump the main open-ditch that well and lost momentum then, but regained the lead and was only beaten in the run-in. Al Cuarto (Nicaron), who also played the witing game in this, came by two out and only conceded ¾ of a length to the winner. Dream Wish finished third at a length and a half, beaten by his weight penalty.
King Edward is the only foal referenced out of Kotkari (Ballingarry) to date. His dam was bred by Pierre de Montesson (Haras des Coudraies) and was unsold at €55,000 at 4 at the February 2013 sales. She'd won before at Enghien over hurdles. She herself is out of Kotkita (Subotica), winner of the Cambacérès Hurdle (Gr1) and placed at group level until the age of 5. Her dam Kotkikova (Martaline) was the best French chaser at 4.
Martaline again!
A remarkable cast also gathered on Saturday at the start of the Hubert d'Aillières Hurdle (L), with top chases winners Bipolaire (Fragrant Mix), Carriacou (Califet) and Crystal Beach (Network) in the mix. The latter, however, refused to start and was therefore declared a non-runner. For their comeback, Bipolaire and Carriacou finished third and fifth, respectively, three and ten lengths behind the underdog winner El Gringo (Kamsin), who had finished second in the Pau Biraben Grand Prix (Gr3) this winter.
He led all the way this time and took off between the last two hurdles, leaving the English raider Agrapart (Martaline) struggling for the 2nd place with Bipolaire, who seemed to have made the most of it but finally lost the spoils in the run-in and had to oblige in third.
Another winner of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) was at the start on Saturday in Auteuil, in the Tofano Chase: On The Go (Kamsin), winner of the Auteuil blue ribband in 2018, and later for his comeback at Fontainebleau, took off too early at the River, however, and his rider could not avoid the fall.