16 May 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
Saturday, May 16, 2020, Auteuil. - A major stage in the spring chasing season, the Murat Chase (Gr2) also becomes the only race on the way to the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1, on June 7) due to the coronavirus outbreak.
After a heated race, the AQPS 6yo mare Ebonite (Khalkevi) held off Feu Follet (Kapgarde) and won by one length. Winner of the 2019 Grand Steeple, Carriacou (Califet) was brave again today as he was carrying 11st 3lbs and stayed on to take the 3rd place at 2 lengths, the favourite Figuero (Yeats), only 5-year-old, finished 4th 9 lengths down the field for his debut over the main Steeple-chase course at Auteuil.
The race was led successively by Poly Grandchamp (Poliglote), who lost his place at the river, then Roxinela (Muhtathir) and finally the winner, who took over jumping the main obstacle of the race, the rail-ditch-and-fence.
Revealed last year at 5, Ebonite finished first or second of her last eight races now. Beaten by the only Bipolaire in the La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1), she won her comeback at the expense of Poly Grandchamp in the Troytown Chase (Gr3).
Ebonite is a 6-year-old AQPS trained by Emmanuel Clayeux. She is out of Tamise (Sleeping Car), an unraced mare also bred by Jacques Cyprés and Laurent Couétil. Ebonite is her first foal before Gironde (Network), her already winning stablemate, Hillary (Gris de Gris), a 3-year-old filly also in training with Emmanuel Clayeux, and a 2-year-old colt by Cokoriko.
Tamise's dam is Gold Cup (Quart de Vin), who ran only once and was unplaced, but has given many winners and has for a dam a full sister to the great The Fellow and Al Capone, named Countess Fellow (Italic).