13 July 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
Monday, July 13, 2020, Auteuil. - A top 4yo hurdling contest at Auteuil, the Questarabad 4yo Hurdle Race (Gr3) closes the season before the summer break on the Parisian obstacles. This 2020 edition proved quite heated as three, then two of the favourites were still going well in the latter stages. Finally, James du Berlais (Muhtathir) took 2.5 lengths over Galleo Conti (Poliglote), who was running his first group race, his third hurdle race, and had only run once over the flat this season.
Always well placed and with the first two at the 2nd last jump and the only filly in the field, Seduction (Evasive) secured the third place twelve lengths behind the first two home.
Galleo Conti led the whole race, pushed by Born to Hold (Born to Sea), who then gave in and lost his first hurdle race for his fourth attempt.
Bred in the Vienne by Jean-Marc Lucas, James du Berlais had just taken the second place in the Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle Race (Gr1) at Compiègne, being only beaten by For Fun. He had earlier needed a few races to find his bearings, took second place in a Listed race at Auteuil, and won after that in the valuable Fifrelet 3yo Hurdle (L). Second for his return in 2020, he easily won a handicap afterwards and was directly geared towards the Alain du Breil by his trainer Robert Collet, racing from then on for English owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, who have now won four of the last five editions of this race!
James du Berlais is a brother of the champion and young sire Goliath du Berlais (Saint des Saints). Their 3-year-old sister Queen of Berlais (Muhtathir) is in training with David Cottin and she has recently finished fourth in the Haras d'Etreham Sagan 3yo Fillies Hurdle (Gr3). A 2-year-old and a yearling by Saint des Saints follow.