3 November 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Friday, November 3, 2023, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – Beaten quickly when heavily backed for his comeback in the 2m2f Maisons-Laffitte 4yo Hurdle (Gr3), 26 days before lining up here for the 2m3.5f €135,000 Pierre de Lassus 4yo Hurdle (Gr3), Losange Bleu (Martaline) was still the favourite among the five runners in the race. He was facing the "Maisons-Laffitte" winner, Whymper (Maxios), with an additional kilo to carry instead of two at their previous encounter.
Fast ahead, the representative of the Papot stable was never threatened by his rival this time. Whymper, who had followed him closely throughout the race, tried his best but ultimately finished second, eleven lengths behind, "only" 4.5 lengths ahead of a promising Lincoln (Ulysses), who finished well on his return to Auteuil after three summer victories.
Losange Bleu set a blistering pace in the race at a kilometre rate of less than 1'15", which is the best of the day at Auteuil, where the other hurdle races were held on shorter distances, including three contested by 3-year-olds, but still.
It's noteworthy that Losange Bleu didn't always jump well, including at the last hurdle.
He will likely be in the starting lineup for the €280,000 Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle (Gr1), also run over 2m3.5f on November 26th, at a time of the season when Irish and British raiders are scarcer than in the spring. Recall that Losange Bleu was defeated in the Alain du Breil (Gr1) by the Frenchbred Irish filly Gala Marceau (Galiway).
His owner, Mrs. Patrick Papot, bred Losange Bleu. His dam, Sweet Valrose (Cadoudal), placed twice over hurdles at Enghien and Auteuil at the age of 3, under the colours of Vicenzo Esposito. She later produced several winners before coming under the control of the Papot family. Losange Vert (Montmartre) was the first product of this label with this mare and distinguished himself by winning the Prix Duc d'Anjou 4yo Chase (Gr3). After Losange Bleu, she gave birth to Je Rêve en Vert (Night Wish), a 3-year-old who is still unraced and declared in training with Dominique Bressou, like his older brother.