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Sunday, March 28th – Auteuil. She was the best 3yo AQPS over the flat and won the classic Prix Jacques de Vienne, the AQPS’ top 3yo contest last season, writes Le Frog. She could now become a leading player over the obstacles after her impressing debut at Auteuil. Ridden with confidence by Christophe Pieux, who took more time checking out the opposition over his shoulders than actually look in front of him in the run-in, Sister Palma (AQ-Kahyasi) took the 44,000 Prix Samaritain AQPS Hurdle (4&5yo - 3,500m) without much hassle. The Jehan Bertran de Balanda-trained 4yo filly just left Sortie de Secours (AQ-Trempolino), a promising filly trained by Guy Cherel and bred by the Haras de Saint-Voir, to score by six lengths unextended. “She’s a lovely filly and a pleasure to train,” said the winning trainer. “I am very pleased because it’s a nice story. We bred her along with my great friends Anthony Baudoin and François Hoffet (whose colours she’s representing).”
 Sister Palma’s overall record now reads 7-3-3-1 and she will probably win a good hurdle race very soon. She’s out of Miss Palma (AQ-Great Palm), an AQPS winner over the flat who already gave Miss Sarenne (AQ-Robin des Prés), second in the Finot Hurdle (L) at Auteuil. Miss Palma is a sister to Prix Jacques de Vienne-winner and five-time winner Miss Academy (Vidéo Rock), who also finished fourth 4th in the Fred Winter 4yo Hurdle Handicap (Gr3) and the Aintree equivalent in 2005, and to the good Mister No (Graveron).
The other AQPS race on Sunday, the €50,000 Prix Mitsouko III Chase (5yo – 4,100m) was also won with great ease by Raphy de la Roche (AQ – Dom Alco). This Francois Cottin-trained gelding won at his 4th attempt over hurdles at 3 years old at Pau and was subsequently 4th for his chasing debut there. Out one year, he came back only three weeks earlier and scored the try this time.
Troytown – Mail de Bievre posts Troytown win
Jehan Bertran de Balanda was already celebrating when Sister Palma closed Sunday’s curtain with such style. His Mail de Bievre (Cadoudal) had made the most of a useful lot in the €150,000 Prix Troytown Chase (Gr3 – 4,400m). This is supposed to be one of the stepping stones towards the Grand Steeple. Only three 5yo were taking part but Mail de Bievre was the only one able to complete the difficult course, which includes the rail-ditch-and-fence, Auteuil’s main obstacle, who had just been refurbished and filled. It was there that favourite Roi du Val (Astarabad) and his rider departed when well in course. Dual French Gold Cup winner Princesse d’Anjou (Nononito), a recent non-runner at Enghien because of unsuitable ground, finished well in fourth for her comeback while Or Noir de Somoza (Discover d’Auteuil), also a good finisher, did well in third. Doumaja (Astarabad), winner of the Clermont-Tonnerre Chase in front of Mail de Bievre lately, survived a nasty mistake at the big one to trail the winner home in second.
But Mail de Bievre was never in danger in the run-in. “I had told Christophe Pieux to take the lead if necessary and the horse relaxed well there,” said Balanda. “I had not really planned to run him there but he’d recovered very well and we decided to proceed. We’ll see what’s next.”
 Guy Cherel, who saddled his usual two winners on the day (3yo Salsa Melody, by Kingsalsa, in the 3yo fillies beginners’ Hurdle and Salder Roque in the Marsan 4yo Hurdle), was happy enough with Doumaja too : “He made a mistake at the rail-ditch but he’s a smart horse. Cyrille Gombeau found him a bit keen though. My other runner Odeillo du Mathan (Balleroy) did well too. Both are ladies’ horses. They carry the girls around in the morning and both riders and horses enjoy it. It gives everybody a good morale. They will follow the classic path towards the Grand Steeple. There is not much choice anyway.”
Owner Herve Barjot said that Or Noir de Somoza needed that run and that he should come back in three weeks time for the Murat Chase, while Francois Cottin was pleased to welcome back his Princesse, who is campaigning for the last time before entering stud.
Mail de Bievre was bred by Jacques Beres at the Haras de la Hetraie (Pascal Noue). He was sold €26,000 to Highflyer as a yearling but failed to find a buyer at €40,000 a year later at the 2007 Arqana July Sale (click here for catalogue page).
Trained by Alan King, he won for his debut in an Exeter bumper, then finished 4th and 7th and was never to be seen racing in Britain. He rather crossed the Channel another time to join Balanda’s. The Maisons-Laffitte handler, whose brother is a top Equestrian rider, as most of the family, took over as Mail de Bievre’s trainer and schooled him to become a proper jumper. The horse relaxed and became easier to deal with, eventually a nice jumper, as one must be to win an Auteuil Chase.
Andre Girard – Sulon up to the task
Three of the 12 4yo chasers taking part in the €48,000 Prix Andre Girard Chase (3,500m) jumped the last together but the boldest jumper took a decisive edge there. The Guillaume Macaire-trained Sulon (AQ-Passing Sale), a beginner over the bigger obstacles, took a couple of length to La Bombonera (Mansonnien) and Magic Poline (Trempolino). Yet, what looked obvious then slowly became doubtful as Magic Poline was pulling herself together to come back on the leader. Ridden by chalmpion rider David Cottin, Sulon kept his head in front of his rival while Queen Maresca (Maresca Sorrento) closed well in third only a 1 lentgh ¼ behind.
“Sulon needed that run,” said Cottin afterwards. “I came by the leaders at one stage but he started to edge on his right and I got him to settle. He was a bit too keen for his own good and paid that in the run-in. he will need a longer distance and the biggest obstacles to give his best. A talented horse anyway.” After his winning hurdling debut at Auteuil, Guillaume Macaire had predicted that the horse would end up as a Maurice Gillois contender, that is the 4yo Gold Cup.
Trainer of Magic Poline, Arnaud Chaille-Chaille noted that his runner had been slightly outpaced on such a short trip and that she will avenge herself over a longer distance.
Sulon was bred in Brittany by J. Garin out of Fest Noz (Port Etienne), who won three flat races amongst AQPS but failed to complete any of her two chasing attempts. Yet she now gave two Auteuil chase winners, namely Ola du Sulon (Grand Tresor) and Sulon. Both run for Patrick Papot and are trained by Macaire.
Marsan – Cherel scores again
It was always to be a case of when and where for Salder Roque (Muhtathir), who won his Auteuil hurdling debut two weeks ago. The Guy Cherel-trained followed the leaders all the way and simply proved himself the best of the field after the last jump of the €70,000 Prix de Marsan 4yo Hurdle (3,600m). “He’s an easy horse who spares himself,” said Cherel. “He’s very well behaved and has always been a natural. I have got nothing to do with that ! He should end up amongst the bests of his generation. I did not take him to Pau because he grew a lot this Winter. My other runner Kinglaska (Kingsalsa), who finished third, is also a good filly. He did well over hurdles last season and I sent him chasing but he was a bit tired at the end of the year. He could stay over hurdles for the time being.”
Between the two Cherels, Aerial (Turgeon) finished well in second for his comeback for trainer Dominique Bressou. For his Auteuil debut, Irish Field (Nayef) did well in fourth despite a mistake at the last.
Formerly trained by Serge Foucher, Salder Roque was bought back €28,000 at the 2009 Arqana Autumn Sale (click her for catalogue page) and was subsequently bought privately by Magalen Bryant.
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