4 July 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
Saturday, July 4, 2020, Auteuil. - A certain logic prevailed in the La Barka Hurdle Race (Gr2), which acted as a replacement for the Grande course de haies d'Auteuil (Gr1), moved to the Autumn meeting.
The 5-year-old gelding Porto Pollo (Manduro), who carried 10lbs less than his official rating, dominated in the run-in, having led most of the race. Owned by Antoine Bardini, he finally left his best rival and stablemate Staunton Street (Martaline), who had trailed him all the way, at eight lengths. Deportetoi (Deportivo) completed a trio of the François Nicolle stable, Paul’s Saga (Martaline) finishing fourth.
Porto Pollo was one of the best of his generation at 3 and still proves to be very consistent at this level, both over hurdles and chasing, but he was struggling to win against the best hurdlers. Back for a new season in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle race (Gr2), he had finished well to take the third place in the run-in and finished well again at the 3rd place in the Hypothèse Hurdle Race (Gr3) at Compiègne.
Bred in Normandy by Arnaud Coursin, Joël and Pierre Souchard, Porto Pollo is the third foal out of Silky Steps (Neyf), who only raced over the flat and won three handicaps, reaching a 73lbs handicap.
Porto Pollo was sold € 16,000 at the Arqana yearlings sales. His brother by Hunter’s Light was sold for € 15,000 last October at Osarus Maisons-Laffitte to the Irishman Seamus Murphy.