28 November 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
The victorious march of L’Autonomie (Blue Brésil) was interrupted by her best enemy, Paul’s Saga (Martaline), in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle, Gr1) on October 17th. Only six weeks later comes the time for revenge and the two mares found themselves at the start of the €245,000 Grand Prix d'Automne Hurdle race (Gr1), moved to the very end of the meeting to accommodate the upheavals of this odd season. The race is a three-miler, 300 yards shorter than the last championship in the discipline.
Paul's Saga has run again -and won- since, but L’Autonomie has taken some time off to return fully loaded and take back her crown while, as usual, Galop Marin (Black Sam Bellamy), winner of the last two editions of this race, will try to have his say in this fascinating rematch.
1. EL GRINGO (g6, FRA by Kamsin and Cinecitta, by Diesis) Weight: 10-10 / Rating: 159lbs
Trained at La Teste-de-Buch by Jérôme Larrigade, he finished second at 3 lengths of L'Autonomie in May in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle race (Gr2) but was less incisive in his last attempts at this level, in particular when he finished sixth in the Grande Course de Haies (Gr1) last time out.
- 2. CORAZONES (g8, FRA by Nidor and Céline Mon Cœur, by Sanglamore) Weight: 10-10 / Rating: 143lbs
Trained in Chantilly by François-Marie Cottin, he alternates between the two disciplines and has had a great summer. He was well beaten, however, in the Grande Course de Haies (Gr1) and twice since at Compiègne in the local Grand Steeple (Gr2) and the Grande Course de Haies (Gr3), five days earlier.
3. GALOP MARIN (g8, IRE by Black Sam Bellamy and Great Jane, by Great Palm) Weight: 10-10 / Rating: 168lbs
Trained at Dragey (Manche) by Dominique Bressou, he won the last two editions of the race but has been regularly beaten this season by L’Autonomie and then Paul’s Saga. Third in the Grande Course de Haies (Gr1), he will try to find a place on the podium in a race that suits him well, obviously, when the ground is heavier, though.
- 4. ANOUMA FREEDOM (h9, FRA by Hannouma and Miss Freedom, by Freedom Cry) Weight: 10-10 / Rating: 137lbs
Trained at Maisons-Laffitte by Yannick Fouin, it generally stands out at good Handicaps and this time tackles better opponents than usual.
- 5. BEAU GOSSE (h6, FRA by Falco and Mazaya, by Sadler’s Wells) Weight: 10-10 / Rating: 157lbs
Trained in Dragey (Manche) by Patrick Quinton, he regularly avoided the big wigs and accumulate minor victories (6 in his last 8 outings) but has just shown that he was still competitive in such company when finished second, three weeks ago, to Paul's Saga in the Carmarthen Hurdle race (Gr3), receiving 2lbs from the winner.
- 6. PAUL’S SAGA (f6, FRA by Martaline and Humoriste, by Saint Cyrien) Weight: 10-6 / Rating: 174lbs
Trained at Chantilly by David Cottin, she regularly played the role of runner-up to L'Autonomie before stealing the limelight in the Grande Course de Haies (Gr1) this Autumne, and confirming by winning the Carmarthen Hurdle race (Gr3) in her absence. She usually stalks the leaders to challenge them and out speed and outduel them in the run-in.
- 7. L’AUTONOMIE (f6, FRA by Blue Brazil and L’Automne, by Kahyasi) Weight: 10-6 / Rating: 172lbs
Trained in the Charentes by François Nicolle, she won eight consecutive races from June 2019 to November 8, when she was beaten in the Grande Course de Haies (Gr1) by Paul's Saga, whom she finds again here on a trip that she masters. Unlike her opponent, she hasn't run again since and will try to use that asset to get a revenge.