18 May 2024
photo scoopdyga.com
May, Auteuil (Paris)
GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE DE PARIS
Group 1, 5yo and +, Steeple-chase, 6,000m/3m6f, 900,000 €
Created in 1874
Last winner: Grand Diose (g8, FRA by Planteur ex Noanioa, by Walk in the Park), owned by F&O Hinderze, Luc Monnet, bred by Frédéric Hinderze, Luc Monnet, trained by Louisa Carberry and ridden by Clément Lefebvre.
The race is run in 2025 for the 147th time.
The 2024 edition
Sunday, 19 May 2024, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – The unfolding of the 146th Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) captivated the Auteuil audience and its outcome even more so. The race favourite, 5-year-old Juntos Ganamos (Martaline), unseated his rider at the main open ditch in the back straight, having led from the start. Following this incident, two horses took the lead: Gran Diose (Planteur) and Grandeur Nature (Lord du Sud), the latter being the second favourite for the €900,000 race, with €405,000 awarded to the winner.
Both horses kept leading, finishing first and second. However, they did not have an uncontested run. In the final turn, In Love (Great Pretender) launched an attack as Gran Diose caught his breath, leaving Grandeur Nature to lead momentarily. Between the last two obstacles, the towering Gran Diose found the energy to make a decisive move, edging out Grandeur Nature by a neck with a powerful finish at the last hurdle, as his rival kept going to the end.
Five lengths behind, Général en Chef (Martaline) secured third place ahead of his In Love, while Amy du Kiff (Kapgarde) claimed fifth place.
#GSCP #GrandSteepleChase de Paris (Gr1) Le magnifique Gran Diose (Planteur) s’impose au terme d’une course riche en rebondissements pour Hinderze Racing et Luc Monnet, l’entraînement de @CBloodstock Louisa Carberry. pic.twitter.com/OzPScpwoPj
— France Galop (@francegalop) May 19, 2024
Bred by his owners, Frédéric Hinderze and Luc Monnet, Gran Diose is trained by Louisa Carberry in Senonnes, West of France. He had not won since the Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) in 2022, which he contested instead of the Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) after dominating the steeplechase at Compiègne. Since then, he had skipped the 2023 Grand Steeple and finished third in the 2023 Prix des Drags Chase (Gr2). Second in the autumn's Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) behind Grandeur Nature, his first Group 1 attempt, he began this season with a fifth place in the Prix Troytown Chase (Gr3) in March before finishing third in the Prix Murat Chase (Gr2).
Gran Diose is the first foal out of Noanioa (Walk in the Park), bred by Frédéric Hinderze, who won two handicaps over hurdles at Auteuil at four years old but did not race again after that season. She has also produced Canichette (Prince Gibraltar), a winner at Auteuil and in the Prix de La Gascogne Chase (Gr3) at Compiègne, though recently prone to falls, and a Motivator filly born in 2021 who remains unraced.
History
The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is the most prestigious jumps race in France and also the richest with €820,000 up for grabs in 2021.
The “Grand Steeple” was first staged at Auteuil on 25 May 1874, under the name of the “Grand National de France”. Open to horses from all countries, it saw itself as the French equivalent of its famous British elder, the Grand National Steeplechase” held at Aintree near Liverpool since 1839.
In 1874, eighteen competitors lined up at the start of this handicap steeplechase consisting of twenty-two jumps over 3 miles 8 furlongs, the winner of which netted a handsome 38,700 francs. In this inaugural year, it was one of a trio of horses from England, the filly Miss Hungerford, who edged it ahead of Dominus. The latter was subsequently demoted for passing outside a flag and second place was awarded to Marche Mal. Only five horses completed the course, with twelve falling and one pulling up.
In 1876, at the request of the local authority who provided 10,000 francs towards the prize money, the race adopted its current name, the “Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris”. Not held because of war from 1915 to 1918 and in 1940, the race will be contested for the 136th time in 2014.
In 1889, the winner, Le Torpilleur, received record prize money of 120,000 francs, which was not too far short of the 155,400 francs paid out to Vasistas, the winner of the most important flat race at the time, the Grand Prix de Paris.
Unraced between 1915 and 1918 and in 1940, the race was run 5 months late in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Changes to the conditions
In 1890, the Grand Steeple changed from a handicap to a “weight-for-age race”: under 4 years old = 62 ½ kg; under 5 years old = 70 kg; under 6 years old and over = 72 ½ kg. In 1920, these weights were cut to 60 kg, 68 kg and 69 kg respectively. In 1941, 4-year-olds were axed from the race and the weights were fixed at: under 62 kg for 5-year-olds and under 64 kg for 6-year-olds and over. Due to the increasing average size of jockeys over the years, the weights eventually had to be increased again. Currently, 5-year-olds carry up to 65 kg and their elders 67 kg. The 4-year-old category has produced sixteen winners, the last of which was the Duc d’Anjou in 1932.
From 1890, a penalty weight of 6 kg was imposed on all winners of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris or the Grand National at Aintree. Reduced gradually to 5, 4, 3 and 2 kg, this penalty was removed in 1972.
Originally fixed at 3 miles 8 furlongs, the distance of the Grand Steeple was reduced to 3 miles 5 ½ furlongs in 1875, then raised to 4 miles in 1889. In 1924 and 1925, it was extended further, to 4 miles 2 ½ furlongs, before returning to 4 miles in 1926. 1969 and 1970 saw a further change when it was cut to 3 miles 7 ½ furlongs. In 1971, it reverted to the traditional 4 miles and twenty-eight jumps, but only for ten years. From 1981, the distance was reduced to 3 miles 5 furlongs, with twenty-three jumps. But in 2014 it was once again extended to 3 miles 6 furlongs.
The Grand Steeple has been won by foreign-trained horses twelve times: 1874 Miss Hungerford, 1877 Congress, 1882 Whisper Low, 1883 Too Good, 1885 Redpath, 1888 Parasang, 1890 Royal Meath, 1893 Skedaddle, 1910 Jerry M, 1919 Troytown, 1925 Silvo and 1962 Mandarin. The latter had in fact been born and initially trained in France. The most recent placed foreigner was Ireland’s Captain Christy, second in 1975.
Only two horses have won the Grand National at Aintree and the Grand Steeple at Auteuil. They are Jerry M, a winner in 1910 in France and in 1912 in England, and Troytown, who emulated him in 1919 and 1920. The French horse, Lutteur III, a winner at Aintree in 1909, could only finish third in the Grand Steeple two years later.
Only three horses have succeeded in winning the Grand Steeple three times. They are Hyères III (1964, 1965, 1966), Katko (1988, 1989, 1990) and Mid Dancer (2007, 2011, 2012). But the latter also finished third on two occasions, in 2008 and 2013.
Nine horses have registered two wins. They are Wild Monarch (1878, 1879), Dandolo (1904, 1908), Ingré (1937, 1939), Lindor (1946, 1947), Huron (1969, 1970) and Ucello II (1993, 1994), Kotkijet (2001, 2004), Princesse d’Anjou (2006, 2008) and So French (2016, 2017).
The Grand Steeple has been won by twelve non-thoroughbreds AQPS: Isopani (1981), Jasmin II (1983), Otage du Perche (1986), Oteuil SF (1987), The Fellow (1991), Ucello II (1993, 1994), Ubu III (1995), Arénice (1996), Al Capone II (1997), First Gold (1998), El Paso III (2002) and Polar Rochelais (2010).
In 2002, first place was awarded to El Paso III after he came in second behind Double Car, who was demoted after a test revealed the presence of a banned substance in the biological sample taken after the race.
Owners
- Arthur Veil-Picard (6 wins) : Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911), Ultimatum (1913), Fleuret (1935) & Ingré (1937,1939).
- Mrs de Moratalla (5 wins) : The Fellow (1991), Ucello II (1993, 1994), Ubu III (1995) & First Gold (1998).
- Mr de Saint-Sauveur (4 wins) : Ventriloque (1876), Wild Monarch (1878, 1879) & Maubourguet (1881).
- Jean Stern (4 wins) : Canard (1905), Lindor (1946, 1947) & Cousin Pons (1961).
Trainers
- Guillaume Macaire (7 wins): Arénice (1996), Bel la Vie (2013), Storm of Saintly (2014), So French (2016, 2017), On The Go (2018), Sel Jem (2022).
- Bernard Sécly (6 wins): Mon Filleul (1978), Katko (1988, 1989, 1990), Al Capone II (1997) & El Paso III (2002);
- Wallace Davis (5 wins): Dandolo (1904, 1908), Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911) & Ultimatum (1913).
- André Adèle (5 wins): Sidéré (1958), Huron (1969, 1970), Giquin (1973) & Corps à Corps (1977).
- Léon Gaumondy (5 wins): Hyères III (1964, 1965, 1966), Haroué (1968) & Sir Gain (1985).
- François Doumen (5 wins): The Fellow (1991), Ucello II (1993, 1994), Ubu III (1995) & First Gold (1998).
- Joseph Ginzbourg (4 wins): Agitato (1934), Fleuret (1935) & Ingré (1937,1939).
- André Fabre (4 wins): Fondeur (1980), Isopani (1981), Metatero (1982) & Jasmin II (1983).
- Jean-Paul Gallorini (4 wins): Chinco (1979), Kotkijet (2001, 2004) & Remember Rose (2009).
- Louisa Carberry (3 wins): Docteur de Ballon (2020, 2021), Gran Diose (2024).
In 2019, Isabelle Pacault became the first female trainer to win the Grand Steeple, with Carriacou, followed in 2020 by Louisa Carberry, thanks to Docteur de Ballon (2020 & 2021), Daniela Mele in 2023 with Rosario Baron, and Louisa Carberry again in 2024 with Gran Diose.
Riders
- Jean Daumas (5 wins): Xanthor (1959), Cousin Pons (1961) & Hyères III (1964, 1965, 1966).
- Max Bonaventure (4 wins): Fleuret (1935), Ingré (1937,1939) & Kargal (1943).
- George Parfrement (3 wins): Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911) & Ultimatum (1913).
- Daniel Guiho (3 wins): Symbole (1942), Boum (1945) & Lindor (1947).
- Dominique Vincent (3 wins): Katko (1988), The Fellow (1991) & El Triunfo (1992).
- Jean-Yves Beaurain (3 wins): Katko (1989, 1990) & Al Capone II (1997).
- Christophe Pieux (3 wins): Line Marine (2003), Sleeping Jack (2005) & Remember Rose (2009).
- James Reveley (3 wins): So French (2016, 2017) & On The Go (2018).
- Bertrand Lestrade (3 wins): Bel La Lvie (2013), Docteur de Ballon (2020, 2021).
The youngest Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winning rider is René Sauval. Born on April 6, 1889, he was 17, one month and 27 days when he rode Burgrave II to victory on June 3, 1906.