10 April 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
April 9, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - The prestigious silks of the Papot family have now won two of the three legs of the Grand Steeple-Chase Masters thanks to Sel Jem's victory in the Murat Chase (Gr2). The five-year-old landed the third leg in fine style, following up on his superb performance in the Troytown Chase (Gr3) three weeks earlier. he's now eligible for the €150,000 bonus offered to the connections of the Grand Steeple winner having won two Masters on his way there.
France’s leading owners since 2012, the Papots claimed the first two places home in the Murat Chase, with Sel Jem getting the better of Dream Wish. With his trademark finishing kick, Sel Jem once again accelerated clear of his rivals and cemented his place as the likely favourite for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, which is on the 22nd of May back at Auteuil! If he does happen to land the biggest race on the calendar, Sel Jem will offer a seventh success in the race to his co-trainer, the Charentes-based Guillaume Macaire, who recently linked up with Hector de Lageneste. If successful in next month’s showpiece, then Macaire will break the record of wins in the race, which has stood since 1874. Johnny Charron, Sel Jem's rider, has never won a Gr1, so to break his duck in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris would be the ultimate crowning of his career! The Papot Family claimed the race in 2013 with Bel La Vie and in 2018 with On The Go. Dream Wish, who finished second in the Murat Chase, is trained in Dragey, in the Manche region of Normandy, by Dominique Bressou.
Quotes
Guillaume Macaire (co-trainer of Sel Jem, 1st)
"Sel Jem was relaxed there. With Johnny Charron, they make a great match. A year ago, this horse wasn’t even in training because of some issues he incurred in his youth. It has worked in his favour. Now he comes to the top level very fresh and preserved. He has grown massively, he jumps well and knows how to use his action. He has a similar profile to Bel la Vie, who also came on bundles over the winter. He was like a dressage horse down at the start and I didn’t want him to do too much. His jockey decided to put him amongst the others, that way he could continue to learn. He hasn’t even run ten times in his life, which is very little for a horse with ambitions for the Grand Steeple. He will run in the Prix Ingré (Gr3) because I don’t want him to be too fresh and I also want him to continue to learn his job. He looks after himself, which is an advantage as the Grand Steeple is run over 6.000m. Since he won at Lion d’Angers last season, I expected him to reach this level."
Johnny Charron (jockey of Sel Jem, 1st)
"Sel Jem was in the perfect mind-frame. He’s a machine! He always does what we ask of him, even if he is playful at home, he always listens to what’s asked. He follows the system and just gets his job done. He didn't jump the double barrier too well, which is a slight issue. The next time I will try and get a good lead over it."
Xavier Papot (owner of Sel Jem, 1st, Dream Wish, 2nd and Poly Grandchamp, 6th)
"Sel Jem’s turn of foot won him the race. He is the type of horse we love, and he hasn’t had a hard race there. He has won easily, and he has everything needed to become a champion. We are very excited for the future, I was hoping that Sel Jem would beat Dream Wish, it’s a bit sad to say that, but I really think he’s a champion. He is in his own world and when he gallops, he flies! Dream Wish will be better over the 6,000m and we can now save the date with excitement – the 22nd of May."
Dominique Brassou (trainer of Dream Wish, 2nd)
"Jumping the last I said to myself that it will take a good one to catch Dream Wish. Le Grand Steeple de Paris will be a different question, it’s run over 6.000m and on better ground. We need everything to go right in the meantime and won’t be running in the Prix Ingré."
François Nicolle (trainer of Happy Monarch, 3rd Glorice, 4th, Pacha Senam, 5th, Poly Grandchamp, 6th, and Srelighonn, faller)
"Sel Jem is the most likely winner of the Grand Steeple-chase de Paris. Ours were not good enough to trouble him today. Of course, the Grand Steeple will be a different story, with 1.000m more to race. Happy Monarch, who finished third, was flat out down the back straight. He’ll be better on better ground. Glorice ran well. I was pleased with him. Pacha Senam ran well too, he is a little below this grade, so I’m pleased with that. The one that troubles me is Srelighonn. He is starting to wind me up, it looks like he’s not trying. He is coming into his jumps as he has just woken up. All being well the five of those will run in the Grand Steeple, because there is some nice prize money to be won."