24 September 2019
Photo Galop Marin : scoopdyga.com
Winner of the Prix de Compiègne Hurdle (Gr3) for his seasonal comeback in 2018, Galop Marin (Black Sam Bellamy) won the same race again on Monday, beating 9 challengers. The Papot family-owned Irish-bred led from the start and held off his most resolute foe, Blue Dragon (Califet), who was carrying 4lbs less than him but was still unable to make up a final length at the post.
Bipolaire (Fragrant Mix), one of the best chasers in the country, did well here but was unable to hold back Curly Basc (Kapgarde), who beat him by a head for the third place, 3/4 of a length before the first two home.
Galop Marin is one of the very few top French jumpers who's not bred in the country. Bred in Ireland by Mr Fleming and Mr Molloy, Galop Marin was purchased € 13,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland mixed sales by FIPS Agency. Aged 7, he's out of Great Jane (Great Palm), a sister to good hurdlers Gaelic Ocean (Urban Ocean) and Gaelic Beauty (Garuda) who was bred in France. The mating that gave Galop Marin is very similar to the one which has produced Gaelic Ocean as both their sires are out of the great mare Urban Sea, that is both brothers to the great Galileo! Galop Marin is now closing to €900,000 in winnings in France and this was his 10th win altogether.
The other Group3 at Auteuil, the Prix Robert Lejeune 3yo Hurdle (Gr3) went to outsider Falstaff (Never on Sunday), who'd been well beaten in April when 6th to For Fun (Motivator). yet this time, he took his time and was able to catch the latter, who'd been in front all the way and just couldn't quite hold on to the wire.
Falstaff runs for Laurent Dassault and Daniel-Yves Trèves. He was paid €40,000 at the Arqana October yearling sales in 2017 by Jean-Claude Rouget. His Intello sister goes to the same sale next month. Their dam, the unraced Spanish-bred Cry of Love (Sakhee), is a sister to Xanadou (Peintre Célèbre), a Prix Paul de Moussac (Gr3) winner, and Heshem (Footsepsinthesand), a Prix Eugène Adam (Gr2) victor.
In the Prix Sapin Chase, for 4 & 5yo mares, Lady Ardilaun (Soldier of Fortune) won for the Devin family, beating the front-running Laterana (Saint des Saints). in the Prix Marittimo Hurdle, Edenham (Denham Red) rushed home to score and take a revenge against the favourite Autocrat (Vision d’Etat), who'd just won for their debut and this time had to settle for third as Enfant d’Estruval (Anzillero), who hadn't raced at Auteuil before but was unbeaten in two races, snitched the 2nd place.
The Prix Kargal 3yo Chase, won last year by Goliath du Berlais, went to Mauricius (Kapgarde), an Ecurie Sagara homebred who won fighting by a head over the front-runner Dream Wish (Dream Well).