1 November 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
Le Costaud (Forestier) erased his Merano mix up the bravest way by winning the Grand Steeple-Chase de Compiègne (Gr2), Friday at Compiègne. The Guillaume Macaire-trained chestnut took the early lead as his rivals failed to commit, took off, seemed in trouble going into the last bend but started again when the favourites tried to angle him between the last two jumps. Bred by his owners, Pierre de Maleissye, Terry Amos and Guillaume Macaire, the sculptural 8yo was driven away by Kevin Nabet to keep out of reach of the defending champion, A Mi Manera (Great Pretender). A Mi Manera's stablemate at François Nicolle's yard The Stomp (Layman) finished a good third on a deep ground he's not supposed to like, beating 5yo mare Ecbatane (Balko).
Le Costaud's dam Loya Lescribaa (Robin des Champs) cost French bloodstock agent Pierre Boulard €30,000 at the Goffs sales in France in 2006. She ran only four times after that, for Terry Amos and trainer Guillaume Macaire. She didn't win but was placed third for her debut at Auteuil in March at 3 in the Prix Auricula Hurdle, a very hot fillies race. Le Costaud is her last foal after only two other geldings who both won at the highest level : Ainsi Fideles (Dream Well) won the Reynoldstown Novices Chase (Gr2) and Sametegal (Saint des Saints) was 3rd in the Triumph Hurdle (Gr1), and wdent on to lift the Greatwood Gold Cup (Gr3) later at Newbury...
Among the other important victories of this All Saints card at Compiegne, Flying Startandco (Cokoriko) won the Prix Dominique Sartini 4yo Hurdle (L). The winner races for Patrick Vandemoortele and the Cyprès family, also his breeders. It is also over Compiègne's hurdles, in the Prix de Besançon (L), that the 5-year-old mare Raffles Sun (Poliglote) beat Hell Boy (Martaline) for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. She was bred in France by Simon Munir and Mrs. Anthony Bromley.