29 April 2023
Photo : scoopdyga.com
Saturday, April 29, 2023, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – 11-year-old Poly Grandchamp (Poliglote) is still going strong. He won the €157,000 GSC Masters - Ingré Chase (Gr3), the fourth and final stage before the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris (May 21), providing François Nicolle's yard with a welcome victory.
Fast ahead, the energetic Poly Grandchamp took off in the run-in to win confidently under Bertrand Lestrade. Franco de Port (Coastal Path) made a very good return over the Parisian racecourse but had to settle for third place as Dream Wish (Dream Well) withstood him by just a nose. Not seen since his failure in the Grand Steeple 2022, this other representative of the Papot family allows the stable to form the winning exacta.
Poly Grandchamp was bred by Jean-Louis Guérin. He is the first foal out of Qualia Grandchamp (Nikos), a winner over hurdles at Fontainebleau and Compiègne before entering stud. An excellent broodmare, she then gave birth to the very good Dalia Grandchamp (Kapgarde), winner of five races for over €550,000 in earnings, including the Edmond Barrachin 4yo Chase (Gr3) for the same team as her elder brother, and third in the La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) in 2018. The latter has a first foal, Dalia Bleue (Zarak), now 2, and a yearling colt named Lotus Vert (Doctor Dino). Galia Grandchamp (Saints des Saints) will be the only other winner out of Qualia Grandchamp. After her success in Compiègne for her second outing, she retired to stud and gave her first foal, Lucky Grand Champ (Doctor Dino), now 2.
What they said...
François Nicolle, the trainer of Poly Grandchamp, 1st, based at Saint-Augustin (17)
"He is an absolutely brilliant horse. He had worked very well, he was in great spirits. This week, before he came off the training track, he was lashing out with his hind quarters, which he never does. Given that we have had the virus, I was a bit in the dark. If it hadn't been for the virus, I would have been very confident. Bertrand Lestrade rode a very good race, and the horse jumped like a stag. We love him, he's the stable's mascot. He booked his ticket for the Grand Steeple. We will normally have Starlet du Mesnil, Figuero, Le Lude and Poly Grandchamp in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris line up, if all goes well in the meantime."
Bertrand Lestrade, the jockey of Poly Granchamp, 1st, based at Royan-La Palmyre (17)
"He makes me chuckle! Today, he was happy to be at the races, and very fired up at that. Last time out, he toyed with me, as he often does... I am happy to provide François Nicolle his whole team with this victory. It's good for them in what has been a tough time for the stable."
Dominique Bressou, the trainer of Dream Wish (2nd), based at Dragey-Rothon (50)
"He made a good return, but, unfortunately. I'm afraid that we will have to stop there with him. He suffers from lung problems, and now, apparently, traces of blood have been detected in his lungs."
Johnny Charron, the jockey of Franco de Port (3rd)
"The horse made a few mistakes, especially at the water jump in front of the stands, and the rail ditch. If we hadn't had a wall of horses in front of us on the last turn, I think that we could have been second... Still, it's a nice prep race for the Grand Steeple. The fact that he came back from competing in cross-country races maybe didn't help him, because he jumped very deliberately."
Louisa Carberry, the trainer of Gran Diose (4th), based at Senonnes-Pouancé (53)
"We can't be disappointed with a horse like this. He jumped hard at the beginning of the race, then he jumped better. He asked for a bit of a breather before he got going again. He put a bit of work into it before jumping the final fence, then he tied up a bit on the run-in. He missed two weeks of work because of his problem before the Prix Murat. He certainly needed another race under his belt. He'll improve for the run going into the Grand Steeple."