26 March 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, March 26, 2023, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - Unbeaten in five hurdling contests, the 5-years-old AQPS Il Est Français (Karaktar) started as the favourite for the €135,000 Hypothèse Hurdle (Gr3), having prevailed three weeks earlier for his first test against older horses in the Juigné Hurdle (Gr3). However, Thélème (Sidestep), one year his elder and winner of the last Grand Prix d'Automne Hurdle (Gr1), was also conceding 4 kilos carrying 11st-5lbs. Yet he started at very low odds, with JDG Bloodstock's representative offered at 2/1, compared to 6/5 for his younger rival.
The AQPS Hermès Baie (Crillon), who was also defeated by 3.5 lengths by Il Est Français in the Juigné Hurdle, carried 11-5 as well and was offered at 7/2.
In other words, the outcome was far from certain for the prodigy owned by Richard Kelvin Hughes and the Haras de Saint-Voir.
The race was fast enough as two early leaders had sprinted away. They were Goa Lil (Samum), Il Est Français' stablemate at Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm's Chantilly yard, and Kapteen (Kap Rock), a good second in the Juigné for his first trial at Group-level... at the age of 8. They were pursued by the five other runners, with Folsom Prison (No Risk At All) lagging as usual at this race stage.
However, Kapteen had hoisted the white flag at the end of the back straight. On the contrary, Goa Lil, also travelling outside, had kept an edge and cut in to lead them into the final turn ahead of Spirit of the Moon (Sea The Moon), Hermès Baie, and Il Est Français, who was not that reassuring yet. In contrast, Thélème had gradually caught up with the leaders...
Between the last two hurdles, it quickly became apparent that Il Est Français was not having a ball, unlike Thélème, who would take the lead after the final hurdle and go on to an easy victory, 6.5 lengths ahead of the thorough Hermès Baie. Three lengths behind came Spirit of the Moon, always in contention. Goa Lil bravely held on to fourth place ahead of Il Est Français.
The €390,000 Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (Gr1) is now eight weeks away. Last year, Hermès Baie had won it after a similar start of the season, while Thélème had won the Juigné in his comeback before being disappointing in the following events. It feels like we have once again started over. The next step, the €174,000 Léon Rambaud Hurdle (Gr2), will take place on April 23. In this race last year, the AQPS Hermès Baie returned to victory for the Papot family.
Thélème is approaching €800,000 in earnings. He was bred by SCEA Bissons and races for JDG Bloodstock, representing the heirs of James Gordon. He was presented as a yearling at the Osarus sales in 2018, unsold at €3,000. He is out of Utopia Jem (Okawango), a mare sold for €5,000 in December 2019 in Deauville, and whose fifth offspring, a Whipper filly born in 2021, was sold for €15,000 in Deauville to BLM Bloodstock, namely Bertrand Le Métayer, the representative of JDG Bloodstock.
Utopia Jem was sold for €80,000 to Cava Associates at the latest Arqana Autumn Sales on November 17, 2022, in foal to Goliath du Berlais, while her weanling colt by Doctor Dino was bought for €160,000 by Bridge Consignment Ltd at the same event.