Sunday, March 7th 2010 – Auteuil. 8yo Doumaja (Cadoudal) had to work all the way to hold off 5yo Mail de Bievre (Cadoudal) in the €150,000 Prix Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre Chase (Gr3 – 4,300m), the first clash for the top French chasers this year. It was a return to top honours for the Guy Cherel-trained veteran as he’d won the €150,000 Prix Morgex Chase (Gr3 – 4,100m) at 4 but met with leg problems since then. Ridden by Cyrille Gombeau, the Guy Cherel-trained, Michel Langot-bred Doumaja never gave way in the last stretch to his younger foe. Mail de Bièvre was second to his generation leader Rubi Ball last time out in the Prix Morgex Chase which is a good omen for the Jacques Ortet-trained 4yo of 2009 champ Rubi Ball.

“He’s always been a good horse and if it wasn’t for his leg problems, he’d shown up with the best chasers for a long time,” said the winning trainer. “He’s had a light meeting at Pau and we shall give him his chance on the way to the Grand Steeple (Gr1 – French Gold Cup).”

Christophe Pieux was disappointed by a fading in fourth Alarm Call (Solar One), a winner of this race in 2008 : “I was going smoothly up until the last turn when I tried to challenge the winner but he suddenly felt tired and I assume he will be better off after this first try.”

One can only wait and see until Remember Rose, Princesse d'Anjou, Mid Dancer and a well healed Oculi come back on the Butte Mortemart to really get excited. These cats were gone on Sunday. It was a good day for mice.

Sunday, March 7th 2010 – Auteuil. Unless something wrong happens to him, Questarabad (AQPS - Astarabad) is a certainty for the major hurdle contests this season in France. The Marcel Rolland-trained AQPS 6yo shrugged off his 70 kilos burden in the €130,000 Prix Juigne Hurdle (Gr3 – 3,600m) to come from last to the fore in the back stretch and then jumped the last two hurdles for fun to score by 4 lengths almost walking with Vitray (Morespeed) second over a handicap like bunch of jumpers.

Rider Regis Schmidlin was awed by his mount : “He’s become so easy to ride, so much better than the others… I was worried about the pace on such a short distance and I just asked him to come by in the backstretch. He was with the leader within two strides and the rest is history. He’s awesome.”

There is not much to say about the others. Rolland horses showed that the Chantilly-based handlers were able to overcome the adverse weather conditions. On even terms, Questarabad is the best hurdler we’ve got over here and that’s about as much we can say so far.

Sunday, March 7th 2010 – Auteuil. A 4+ hurdle contest for beginners, the €58,000 Prix Rohan (L – 3,600m) has always been a preferred aim for talented flat horses switching to the jumps, writes Le Frog. The likes of Latin Mood and Questarabad feature amongst the latest winners of the race. Everybody was zeroing on Longchamp winning son of Montjeu’s Tsar de Russie to take the honours and it looked as if the Marcel Rolland-trained beast was about to reach expectations when jumping the second last along AQPS 4yo Sans Histoire (Blushing Flame). He actually took over the long standing leader between the two last hurdles but the grey halfbred had the last laugh as she edged her thoroughbred rival on the post. Boytard (Tot ou Tard) led the field in third 1,5 length out.

Bred and owned by Nicolas de Lageneste’s Haras de Saint-Voir, Sans Histoire had started her career well over the flat with a promising 5th place at Lyon in November. She’d finished well there after an easy start. This half sister to Mort de Rire (Luchiroverte, his name meaning “Die Laughing” in French), a winner over the chase in Leicester, showed lots of stamina and willingness to score over a more seasoned flat horse. “She had the rail and I like her a lot”, quipped her trainer Thomas Trapenard. Marcel Rolland was rather disappointed by Tsar de Russie, a 5yo horse formerly trained by Elie Lellouche for the Wildensteins. Lellouche bought him back for €25,000 at the 2009 Arqana Arc Sale (click here for his catalogue page). “We bought him privately after the sale,” said Rolland. “He now runs for Serge Brunswick and the Biancos. Brunswick was a co-owner of Coronation Stakes’ winner Shake the Yoke. We thought we could take this one jumping the last as he took the edge over Sans Histoire, but he was wearing blinkers over the flat and it looks like he’s not overly willing… That could be a problem. We will have to work on that with his rider.”

Tuesday 2nd March 2010, Enghien. (www.leblogdeparisturf.com ). Patiently ridden by Olivier Subileau (for his first ever winner at Enghien), Quart Monde (AQPS - Network) emerged the winner after a hard fought battle with Quocotiep (AQPS - Network) in the €50,000 Prix Fernand Roy Chase (AQPS-4,500m). “He ran badly for no real reason at Pau, analysed trainer François Nicolle. “Olivier gave him a very nice ride, I think it was a good idea to put a jockey with a claim on him because there wasn’t much in it at the finish. He is a very good jumper, who already ran well here at the end of last year.”

Quart Monde was bred by Jacques Cyprès, in whose colours he runs. His dam, In Extremis (Quart de Vin) is out of a sister of The Fellow and Al Capone II. At stud she has already produced Oakham (Agent Bleu), winner of the Grand Steeple des AQPS at Lion d'Angers, Panique Pas (Vidéo Rock), winner of the Prix Samaritain at Auteuil, and Rock In (Vidéo Rock), a useful chaser.

Varaville – Zaliapour versatile as ever

Zaliapour (Daliapour) was impressive when winning the €48,000 Prix Varaville Hurdle (4yo Males-3,600m) from pillar to post, and in doing so beating the strong finishing Son Oiseau (AQPS - Persian Ruler) and Stellafête (Califet). Zaliapour had the advantage of having run and won at Pau this winter. “He prefers going left handed, so he is better here than at Pau”, explained winning trainer Charles Gourdain. “He likes to be in front, it stops him from pulling. He has quite a light build and maybe one day the lack of strength will hinder him. If I find a race for him this spring it is possible that he will run one more time, if not he will go away for a break ahead of next winter.” Zaliapour had previously shown some talent on the flat when winning at Toulouse. He was purchased as a yearling by his trainer, for the sum of €36,000 at the Arqana October Sales in 2007 (click here for catalogue page ). He is a brother of Don Preuil (Saint Preuil), winner of the Camille Duboscq (L.) and Royal Bonnet (Bonnet Rouge), recent winner at Pau.

Marise – Septland one to note for future

Septland (AQPS - Agent Bleu) out jumped her rivals to win the €44,000 Prix Marise Hurdle (4yo Females-3,500m) by 8 lengths. This unraced filly took the lead on the far straight and then easily kicked clear on the flat. The strong finishing, Polynikova (Polish Summer) snatched second place from Signal Ethique (Sin Kiang). Some distance behind the trio, Ardissone (Martaline) took fourth place in front of the favourite Salika (AQPS - Califet), who had led the race for some time.

“She caught our eye in the mornings”, remarked David Berra, rider of the winner for trainer Philippe Peltier. “Everything comes easily to her. Today she over jumped a little, but that’s because she lacks maturity.” Running in the colours of Jacques Détré, Septland was bred by her joint owner Thierry Cyprès. She is out of Jubyland (Kadalko), who is a sister of Cumberland (Cyborg), winner of the Prix Maurice Gillois, and Embiez (Lute Antique). Jubyland has already produced Réunion (Fragrant Mix), placed second in the Prix Al Capone II at Auteuil.