11 June 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Saturday, 10th June 2023, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - It was after a thrilling battle with the favourite and frontrunner in the €135,000 Questarabad 4yo Hurdle Race (Gr3), the gray Le Philosophe (Doctor Dino), that the AQPS Julenaland (Doctor Dino) emerged victorious in his first attempt at Group level. It was also his third race at Auteuil after securing placings at Bordeaux and Angers.
Bred by Thierry Cyprès and Yan Durepaire, Julenaland achieved his first success with a highly inspired ride from Angelo Zuliani, who skillfully challenged the leaders without exhausting his own resources. After being held back in the Auteuil turn to stay behind Le Philosophe, Julenaland launched his attack in the final turn and then dominated in the run-in to win by over two lengths. The Philosophe never gave up, however, and held on to third place, four lengths ahead of the AQPS Jumper Sacré (Triple Threat)...
Julenaland, owned by Patrice and Jacques Détré, Jérémie Filliette, Écurie Team Spirit, and his trainer François Nicolle, is the fifth foal out of Vatu Vara (Voix du Nord), and her second winner after Hic Salta (Cocorico), a winner at Saint-Brieuc. After Julenaland, the mare only produced one more foal before passing away, a 3-year-old filly by Manatee who was recently taken out of training without having had a first run. Vatu Vara, a winner over hurdles at Enghien, comes from the good mare Lettiland (Ragmar), a sister to the excellent Maurice (Video Rock), and the exceptional dam Ireland (Kadalko), who also produced Edgeoy, Vicente, and Porto Rico...