13 November 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, November 13, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – The €520,000 Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) 2022 failed to attract any of the latest Grand Steeple 1-2, Sel Jem and Jex, nor Docteur de Ballon, absent this season. There was, however, Poly Grandchamp (Poliglote), the defending champion, who didn’t go down easily after taking, as usual, the lead. Rallied during the first lap by the outsider Enjeu d'Arthel (Saddler Maker), then by one of the favourites, Figuero (Yeats), the Papot family’s 10-year-old gelding could not, however, long contain the latter’s push forward, which confirms his return to form, three years after his Prix Maurice Gillois 4yo Chase (Gr1) victory, winning by three lengths over the good finisher Grandeur Nature (Lord du Sud), half a length in front of our brave Poly Grandchamp. Third in the Grand Steeple, the Irish raider Franco de Port (Coastal Path) was well fancied here but couldn’t sustain his effort in the final stages after briefly moving forward going into the last turn.
Figuero, who races for Jacques Détré, his breeder Thierry Cyprès and his trainer François Nicolle, so confirms his Prix Héros XII Chase (Gr3) win last time out, ahead of Starlet du Mesnil (No Risk at All), fourth this time, and Poly Grandchamp.
He is the first foal out of the AQPS mare Annaland (Saint of Holies), who has since given Gomeraland (Lord of the South), third in the Magné Hurdle (Gr3), Hunter (Montmartre), aged 5 years and a dual winner. Then came the 2-year-old Kingland (Cocoriko), La Hora (Yeats), who’s Figuero's full sister, and finally, Motu Kota (Doctor Dino).
Annaland’s dam Palmaland (Scammer) is out of the very good mare Queensland IV (Citheron), also the dam of Embiez (Lute Antique) and Cumberland (Cyborg), winner of the Prix Maurice Gillois.