27 November 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
November 27, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – The €250,000 Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle Race (Gr1) was once again competed over a heavy ground that was no concern for the favourite, the AQPS-bred Il est Français (Karaktar), bred by Haras de Saint-Voir, also joint-owner with Richard Kelvin-Hughes. He's now unbeaten over jumps in 4 races, all run at Auteuil. Now trained in Britain by Tom George, he was steered by James Reveley to take over the early leader Impressive Machin (Gris de Gris) as they were passing in front of the grandstand. They went outside the course in the back straight while their best rival, the filly Ine Anjou (Balko), was happy to lead the inside group. In the final turn, she was the only left to keep contact with impressive Il est Français, and she even seemed to challenge him at the 2nd last jump, but as soon as James Reveley pushed the button, the writing was on the wall: Il est Français won by eight lengths as a brave Spirit of the Moon (Sea the Moon) finished third at a further ten lengths. Kyrov (Dark Angle) ended in 4th place, in front of the Spring champion Hawai du Berlais (Martaline), always outpaced on that ground.
Il Est Français took three second places over the flat, including the Prix Jacques de Vienne (Gr1-AQPS) for his breeder, owner and then-trainer, Nicolas de Lageneste. After his victorious debut over hurdles early this year, he was purchased by Richard Kelvin Hughes, 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.