Sunday 10^th October 2010, Auteuil (www.jourdegalop.com) The €160,000 Prix Héros XII Chase (Gr3 – 5yos+ - 4400m) lived up to its promise when the first four places were taken by four champions. Mid Dancer (Midyan) came off the best in a battle with the superb Oculi (Denham Red), who was making his return over fences. Both of these horses have come back from injuries which occurred here at Auteuil; Mid Dancer fractured his fetlock when finishing third in the Prix Georges Courtois (Gr2) while Oculi suffered a sprain when jumping the water in the Prix Ingré (Gr3) in 2009. Both should now go for the Prix La Haye-Jousselin (Gr1, 7/11 according to connections.  Rubi Ball (Network) took on the elite of his elder chasers in this race and did not disgrace himself when finishing in third, a short neck behind Oculi. Remember Rose (Insatiable) is most definitely at his best over trips further than 5000m yet he also put up a brave performance to finish a further 8 lengths behind in this place. It is almost impossible to predict the winner of the Prix La Haye-Jousselin after this race and it looks to be a very interesting contest that awaits us on November 7^th.

Questarabad (Astarabad) is the king over hurdles at Auteuil. When winning the €130,000 Prix Carmarthen Hurdle (Gr3 – 5yos+ - 3900m) he once again proved his amazing ability not just in the fact that he was successful but also in the way he remained relaxed throughout the race before going on to win by half a length from Tyko (Robin des Champs). The winning distance does not reflect the ease with which he won as jockey Régis Schmidlin, never hit him once on the flat yet he made up ground on Tyko to catch him just before the line. Questarabad will now have the Grand Prix d'Automne (Gr1) as his objective before a possible visit to the Cheltenham Festival next March for either the Champion Hurdle (Gr1) or World Hurdle (Gr1). Viotti (Dream Well) ran well to finish a decent third under young jockey Steven Colas who was making his comeback after a brief retirement from race riding.

In beating the boys in the €175,000 Prix Georges de Talhouët-Roy Hurdle (Gr2 – 3yos – 3600m), Nikita du Berlais (Poliglote) once again proved that she is the besot of her generation of hurdlers. Now the winner of four races she has caught the eye of the public ahead of the Prix Cambacérès (Gr1) which she seems to have in the bag. Held up, Nikita du Berlais made up ground on the far side to sit in second place coming round the last bend. In the straight there was no contest whatsoever and she came home the comfortable 8 length winner under David Cottin. Grand Charly (Le Triton) took second place half a length ahead of Crios

(Canyon Creek).    

 Bred by Jean-Marc Lucas, Nikita du Berlais is the third foal out of Chica du Berlais (Cadoudal), who was trained by Jean-Paul Gallorini and finished fifth on her only start over jumps at Auteuil.

Kauto Stone (With the Flow) made up for his disappointing sixth place in the Prix Edmond Barrachin when winning the €150,000 Prix Orcada Chase (Gr3 – 4yos -4300m), in his preparation for the Prix Maurice Gillois (Gr1, 7/11) before a possible trip to England in December. Kauto Stone took control of the race and won by two and a half lengths despite making a mistake at the water jump. Winner of the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Gr1), Saint du Chenet (Poliglote), wore cheekpieces for the first time in this race and didn’t seem pleased with the experience as he finished a disappointing seventh.

Thursday 30^th September 2010 Auteuil (www.jourdegalop.com)

Guillaume Macaire continued his record in the €52,000 Prix Pride of Kildare Hurdle (3yos – 3600m) when his charges occupied three of the first four places. It was Criqtonic (Green Tune) who was successful and passed the line 5 lengths ahead of stable companion Sassenheim (Sassanian).Tout ou Rien (Poliglote) took a decent third place a further 6 lengths behind and is one to watch in the future.

Bred by Haras des Monts d’Arrée, Criqtonic is out of Criquetot (Épervier Bleu), who won the Prix de la Faisanderie at Longchamp. She is also the dam of Wake Board (Dansili), who is trained by Guy Cherel and finished third in the Prix Wild Monarch (L) on his first start. Criqtonic has twice passed through the ring at Arqana in Deauville, in 2007 he sold for €7,000 and again in October 2008 for €20,000.

The €50,000 Prix Fézensac Chase (4yo AQPS – 3,500m) was won by the Marcel Rolland trained Sir Dream (AQ – Dream Well) in the hands of Alexis Acker. He beat Guy Cherel’s Slow Game (AQ – Al Namix) by three quarters of a length with Francois Cottin’s Sam Light a further 8 lengths behind in third place
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Tuesday 28th September 2010, Enghien (www.jourdegalop.com)

Taikanous (AQPS - Smadoun) achieved his third consecutive success when winning the € Steeple-Chase de Début (3yos having first run over chases-3400m). Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé’s charge easily dominated his rivals and passed the post 5 lengths ahead of his nearest rival Starimperial (Starborough). Race leader Cathodine Cayras (Martaline) was a further 4 lengths behind in third place.

Bred by his trainer, Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, Taikanous is a son of Myrtille Jersey (AQPS-Murmure), a mare who won 11 of her 21 career starts and finished second in the Grande Course de Haies

(L) at Clairefontaine. Taikanous is her first foal and she has since produced a 2 year old filly Very Groom (Charming Groom).

Take Over Sivola (AQPS - Assessor) was the impressive 10 length winner of the € Prix d’Aix Hurdle (3yos – 3500m). His rivals were no match for his talents despite the fact that the track was probably too sticky for him to be at his very best. Francois Cottin’s Toit du Monde (AQPS - Shaanmer) took second place a length ahead of Mystic Desir (Ballingarry).
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Monday 27^th September 2010, Nancy (www.jourdegalop.com)

The €22,000 Prix des Cristalleries Hurdle (3yos – 3400m) was won easily by a horse to follow in the future, Guillaume Macaire’s Tadzio (AQ - Dom Alco). This was a third success over jumps for Tadzio, who is one of the trainer’s top 3 year old AQPS horses. He settled back off the leaders before making up ground on the far side to take the lead on the last bend. He beat Melkior du Berlais (Trempolino) by an impressive 10 lengths with Where’s the Soap (Country Reel) a further length behind in third.

Tadzio was bred by François Rimaud and is out of Formosa (Royal Charter), a decent jump mare who was trained by Éric Vagne. Formosa is also the dam of Sang Bleu (Lavirco), winner of the Prix Pride of Kildare before being exported across the Channel.