La Périchole 4yo Chase History: The end of the beginning

June, Auteuil

La Périchole 4yo Chase

Group 3, 4-year-olds, Steeple-Chase, 4,400m/2m6f, €95,000

Created in 1941

Last winner: Le Berry (g4, FRA by Gemix ex Kalberry, by Kaldounevees), owned by Gemini Stud, écurie du Roebeck, Benjamin Teboul & David Cottin, bred by Mrs Édouard Decazes & Louis Le Métayer, trained by David Cottin, ridden by Kevin Nabet.

The race is run in 2021 for the 81st time

The 2020 edition

Monday, July 13, 2020, Auteuil. - The odds-on favourite Le Berry (Gemix) completely dominated the La Périchole 4yo Chase (Gr3), last top 4yo Chase of the season. Owned by Francis Teboul's Gemini Stud, who also raced his sire Gémix, the winner added a third victorious chase to his young record. Bred by Mrs Edouard Decazes and Louis Le Métayer, he finished fifth last year, after his victorious debut, in the Prix Georges de Talhouët-Roy 3yo Hurdle Race (Gr3). For his comeback in 2020, he ran his first steeplechase at Compiègne and won by 11 lengths, repeated in a Listed that he won by ten lengths, and this time left the second Magrudy (Doctor Dino) at nine lengths, the third-placed Golden Park (Walk in the Park) coming from the rear grab the third place, eight lengths behind the second…
Le Berry's dam, Kalberry (Kaldounevees), ran over the flat and finished fourth in the Prix de Flore (Gr3) for her breeder, Mrs Édouard Decazes. The dam's first foal, Berryville (Poliglote), won the Grand Prix de Pau Chase (Gr3). It's the family of the Melbourne Cup (Gr1), the Caulfield Cup (Gr1) and Hong Kong Vase (Gr1) winner Dunaden

History

This race was created in 1941 when 4 year-olds were excluded from the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. It is named after a mare whose memory is linked to the creation of Auteuil Racecourse in November 1873. Run in late June since 1999, it became a kind of consolation event for the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure when the latter was made part of the Grand Steeple day in late May. Prior to this, the Prix La Périchole (then run in early June) had, since 1961, served as a trial for the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (the big event of the summer for 4-year-old steeplechasers), run in late June.

The Prix La Périchole-Prix Ferdinand Dufaure double has been done 9 times: by Artus II (1961), Prime (1966), Dolean (1984), Frappeuse (1988), Ucello II (1990), Kizitca (1996), Valdance (1998), Storm of Saintly (2013), Kotkikova (2015).

La Périchole 

A chestnut female sired by Orphelin and foaled by Gold Dust (Dulcimer) in 1867 at the stables of M. Aumont-Thiéville, La Périchole showed a fair amount of quality on the flat, where she picked up ten victories. As a 2-year-old, sporting the colours of "Capitaine Robert", she finished second in the Prix de Morny on her debut at Deauville and shortly after was again runner-up in the Prix de la Plage. After being purchased by Edgar de La Charme, she won one race at Chantilly as a 3-year-old, two at the age of 4, including the Grand Prix de Deauville (the first edition), six as a 5-year-old (two at Deauville, one at Cabourg, one at Craon and one at Avranches), and one as a 6-year-old at Longchamp in June.

Acquired shortly after by the Comte (future Marquis) de Saint-Sauveur, she then embarked on a jumps career as a 6-year-old. After being placed a few times, she raced at Auteuil’s inaugural meeting on 1 November 1873, coming 2^nd behind Fantôme in the Prix d'Auteuil. Eight days later, she did even better by triumphing in the Grand Prix d'Automne (steeplechase, handicap, 3 miles 6 furlongs), a showpiece event offering prize money of 11,400 F to the winner. If truth be told, she benefited from a favourable weight (thirty-two pounds less than the top weight Marius). Le Figaro reported that "immediately after La Périchole’s win, half a dozen pigeons were released to carry the news to the branches” (the bookmakers’ branches in Paris’s l'Opéra district).

As a 7-year-old, La Périchole garnered two further victories in six outings, one at Auteuil carrying 78 kilos, and the other in August in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Deauville, a handicap run over 3 miles six furlongs. At the age of 8, La Périchole made two more public appearances, but without success, the last in the Grand National de France (future Grand Steeple, won by La Veine), where she was pulled up. Purchased as a broodmare by Adolphe Fould, she foaled six horses, none of which enjoyed successful racing careers.

Owners

• Wildenstein Family (3 wins): Dalanik (1969) for Georges, Paiute (1977) for Daniel, Néoménie (1982) for Sylvia.
• Magalen Bryant (3 wins): Royale François (2009), Off by Heart (2011), Dica de Thaix (2017).
• Mme L. Aurousseau (2 wins): Sabry (1943), Méli Mélo (1946).
• Antonin Mourrut (2 wins): Bonosnap (1955), Bosnap (1959).
• Léseleuc de Kérouara (2 wins): Carhaix (1958), Prime (1966).
• M. de Posson (2 wins): Cacao (1965), Sambristan (1976).
• Georges Blizniansky (2 wins): Bambrook (1978), Collins (1987).
• Philippe Lorain (2 wins): Cyborg (1986), Knock Down (2003).
• Famille Décrion (2 wins): Yasco (1963) pour Julien, Croissant Chaud (1980) pour l’Écurie Décrion.
   

Trainers

• Jean-Paul Gallorini (7 wins): Speedy Gangster (1979), Richelieu Drouot (1985, dead-heat), The Dream I Dream (1993), Le Navire (1994), Turkish Junior (2001), Remember Rose (2007), Kotkikova (2015).
• Guillaume Macaire 6 wins): Hunorisk (2005), Off by Heart (2011), Michto (2012), Storm of Saintly (2013), Geluroni (2014), Saint Goustan Blue (2016).
• Jacques Ortet (4 wins): Frappeuse (1988), Kizitca (1996), Valdance (1998), Sleeping Night (2000).
• André Adèle (3 wins): Yasco (1963), Teruel II (1968), Silver Trac (1973).
• Jack-Hubert Barbe (3 wins): Bambrook (1978), (Croissant Chaud, 1980), Jil Bar (1981).
• Henri Gleizes (3 wins): Sir Walter (1951), Clam (1960), Cacao (1965).
• Georges Pelat (3 wins): Bonosnap (1955), Bosnap (1959), Paiute (1977).
• Charles Bartholomew (3 wins): Sartène (1941), Plassy Boy (1949).
• William Head (3 wins): Sabry (1943), Méli Mélo (1946).
• Willy Kalley (3 wins): Artillant (1972), Tamarix AC (1989).
• Yann Porzier (3 wins): Doelan (1984), Royal Chance (1991).
• Gérard Collet (3 wins): Cyborg (1986), Nusbaum (1992).
• François Doumen (3 wins): Ucello II (1990), Hindiana (1999).
• Thomas Trapenard (3 wins): Le Chablis (2002), Soleil de Sivola (2010).

Riders

• Christophe Pieux (4 wins): Kizitca (1996), Valdance (1998), Oh Calin (2006), Remember Rose (2007).
• René Bèche (2 wins): Pré d’Automne (1945), Bouzoulou (1947).
• Pierre Delfarguiel (2 wins): Pharamond III (1950), Montlouvier (1952).
• Maurice Prod’homme (2 wins): Yasco (1963), Teruel II (1968).
• Hervé Corfdir (2 wins): Loury (1971), Paiute (1977).
• Dominique Costard (2 wins): Croissant Chaud (1980), Richelieu Drouot (1985, dead-heat).
• Dominique Vincent (2 wins): Collins (1987), Nusbaum (1992).
• Bruno Jollivet (2 wins): Frappeuse (1988), Royal Chance (1991).
• Didier Mescam (2 wins): Le Navire (1994), Defferson (1995).
• Philippe Chevalier (2 wins): Hindiana (1999), Knock Down (2003).
• Jacques Ricou (2 wins): Hunorisk (2005), Off by Heart (2011).
• Vincent Cheminaud (2 wins): Storm of Saintly (2013), Geluroni (2014).