26 April 2019
Photos scoopdyga
A bunch of prep races for the Zeturf Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris (Gr1) weekend are on the Saturday agenda at Auteuil.
The Prix Ingré Chase (Gr3) is run over 4,400m/2m6f. Seven horses have been declared, including the Prix Murat (Gr2) winner Crystal Beach (Network, photo), and his 2nd that day Le Costaud (Forestier). Saint Goustan Blues (Blue Brésil) tries again his luck after finishing second for his return behind Storm of Saintly (Saint des Saints), whom he finds again in this. The representative of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede was making his debut under the care of Dominique Bressou. Milord Thomas (Kapgarde) is one of the greats of Auteuil but he seems to struggle a bit lately. The talented Doctor de Ballon (Doctor Dino) goes back chasing after a successful comeback over the Prix Jean Granel hurdles, where he beat the champion Blue Dragon, and the consistent Dalia Grandchamp (Kapgarde) completes the field of the Prix Ingré after a return in the Prix Murat.
The Prix Jean Stern 4yo Chase (Gr2) has his favourite in Goliath du Berlais (Saint des Saints). Owned by Stéphane Szwarc, haras d'Étreham and Palmyr Racing, he has won five of his last six races, all chases. His only defeat goes back to his second place in the Gr2 Prix Congress Chase, late last year behind Polirico. He has defeated the latter twice this season, and the challenger has thrown in the towel for the moment: he's switched back to hurdles.
On the other hand, another David throws the gauntlet down on Goliath as Kapdam (Kapgarde) will challenge him for the first time. Trained by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, he's owned by JDG Bloodstock (James Gordon), Richard Corveller (his breeder), Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé and Jacques Bruneau. He is unbeaten this term in two chases, one at the expense of Bel Apsis (Apsis), also second to Goliath of the Berlais in the Prix Fleuret Chase (Gr3) last time out. The form, however, plays out in favour of Goliath. Kapdam will also run for the first time on such a long distance of 4,400m/2m6f.
To succeed Edward d'Argent and Whetstone in the race's history, we find Bel Apsis and Royal and Tic (Policy Maker), who will try to take revenge on Goliath of the Berlais, Thrilling (Network), who has been beaten by Kapdam, outsiders Fou du Brésil (Blue Brésil), the AQPS Flyingstartandco (Cokoriko) and the consistent filly La Barakas (Davidoff).
In the Prix Amadou 4yo Hurdle race (Gr2), the star of the show will be Polirico (Cokoriko), already mentioned above and in search of redemption over hurdles after having failed twice chasing this season, but at the best level. Owned by Jacques Détré, bred in the Nièvre by Thierry Cyprès, he won the General Saint-Didier Hurdle race (Gr3) last year in Compiègne. He had also beaten a Goliath du Berlais over hurdles last spring ...
He is particularly opposed to L'Autonomie (Blue Brésil), winner of the last high-level 4-year hurdle race held at Auteuil lately, the Prix de Pépinvast (Gr3), ahead of Feu Follet (Kapgarde), again in the running on Saturday. That day, Laterana (Saint of Saints) finished fourth and she tries her luck again with outsiders Fraulein Agatha (Manduro) and Matfog (Style Vendome).
Equivalent over hurdles of last Sunday's Prix du Président de la République (French National, Gr3), the Grande Course de Haies de Printemps (Gr3), contested by twenty competitors and endowed with € 155,000, will be used to support the Quinté + bet.