8 November 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, November 8, 2020, Auteuil. - As usual, Le Berry (Gemix) started as the favourite in the €220,000 Maurice Gillois 4yo Chase (Gr1), the "Grand Steeple-Chase des 4ans", and he left no one in charge of leading the 2m6f chase of Auteuil. Closely followed by Magrudy (Doctor Dino) and Galleo Conti (Poliglote), the Gemini Stud homebred sired by their champion hurdler Gemix jumped the penultimate obstacle of the course, the Double Barrière, in the lead. Yet, he hadn't put daylight between him and his challengers, that is the two aforementioned horses plus Gardons le Sourire (Fame and Glory), and it looked like there could finally be some kind of struggle there. But that was only a fluke: the grey accelerated and soon, all of his rivals gave in, as he soared to win the race by eight lengths. Galleo Conti finished the best to grab the second place ahead of Magrudy, two and a half lengths behind, and Gardons Le Sourire, who levelled off to finish.
This is Le Berry's first Group 1 success, and his sixth since his chasing debut, a discipline in which he is still undefeated.
Le Berry's dam, Kalberry (Kaldounevees), ran on the flat and finished fourth in the Prix de Flore (Gr3) for her breeder, Mrs Édouard Decazes. The mare's first offspring, Berryville (Poliglote), won the Grand Prix de Pau Chase (Gr3) twice after placing in the Derby de l'Ouest. He is from the family of Melbourne Cup (Gr1), Caulfied Cup (Gr1) and Hong Kong Vase (Gr1) winner Dunaden.