28 April 2019
Photos scoopdyga.com
Goliath du Berlais (Saint des Saints) led all the way in the Prix Jean Stern 4yo CHase (Gr2), a steeple-chase gathering the best 4-year-old in the country. Owned by Stéphane Szwarc, haras d'Etreham and Palmyr Racing, the tall colt won without being really challenged by Bel Apsis (Apsis), who followed him from the beginning and had already finished in this place during their previous, the Prix Fleuret 4yo Chase (Gr3). This time, he finished three lengths behind the winner. The new challenger Kapdam (Kapgarde) was never in the mix, and Royal et Tic (Policy Maker), the other potential threat, faded in the last straight.
In the Prix Amadou 4yo Hurdle race (Gr2), Feu Follet (Kapgarde) was never far from the front-runners but he looked in trouble at the last hurdle, which he jumped alongside L'Autonomie (Blue Brésil), still in the lead, Laterana (Saint des Saints), trying again at the highest level, and moreover Polirico (Cokoriko). Only then did the Guillaume Macaire-trained Goliath, owned by Pierre Pilarski, made a difference to finally leave a resolute Polirico take the second place five lengths down in front of Laterana and L'Autonomie.
This is Feu Follet's sixth win in eight races. He is out of Folle de Toi (Sageburg), a mare bred by stable D (Jean-Pierre Dubois). She ran eight times without success over the flat and Feu Follet is her first foal. She has since given two fillies also by Kapgarde, including an unraced 3-year-old in training with Guillaume Macaire, then a Triple Threat colt. She is herself a sister to Fou et Sage (Sageburg), second in the Prix d'Indy Hurdle race and then the Prix de Pépinvast Hurdle race (Gr3) behind the champion Bonito du Berlais.
Goliath du Berlais was bred by Jean-Marc Lucas. He's partly owned by Haras d'Étreham, who bought a share last year. He is still entire and his sire is based at Etreham, near Bayeux.