7 November 2022
Photo : scoopdyga.com
November 4, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – Four-year-old AQPS Il Est Français (Karaktar) is still unbeaten over hurdles after three trials, and by overwhelmingly winning the €120,000 Pierre de Lassus 4yo Hurdle race (Gr3) against his generation's top hurdlers, he has seized the crown in the most emphatic fashion.
Soon well placed, Il Est Français took the lead about 5 furlongs out and took off in the final stages, beating by eight lengths the generation's former leaders Ine Anjou (Balko) and Hawaï du Berlais (Martaline), the latter having won the Alain du Breil 4yo HUrdle race (Gr1) in the Spring. He succeeds in the race's roll of honours champions such as Hermès Baie (Crillon), L'Autonomie (Blue Brésil), Master Dino (Docteur Dino), De Bon Coeur (Vision d'Etat) or Device (Poliglote)...
Bred by Haras de Saint-Voir, Il Est Français took three second places over the flat, including the Prix Jacques de Vienne (Gr1-AQPS) for his owner and trainer, Nicolas de Lageneste. After his victorious debut over hurdles early this year, he was purchased by Richard Kelvin Hughes and became the new owner's first horse rained in France, Haras de Saint-Voir remaining a partner in the ownership. He was also sent to Tom George's stable.
Il Est Français is off his sire Karaktar (High Chaparral)'s first generation. His AQPS dam Millésimée (Video Rock) didn't succeed in racing, but at stud, before Il Est Français, she gave eight foals, and seven winners, including the Listed-winner Un Beau Matin (Sagamix), now exported to Ireland. It is the family of Hard Rock (Vidéo Rock), an Edmond Barrachin Chase (Gr3) winner, but also Sortie de Secours (Trempolino), a dual Listed-winner, dam of Général en Chef (Martaline), a William Head Chase (L) winner and Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) 4th.