Racing
Papot family strike twice at Auteuil
It was a memorable afternoon at Auteuil in Paris for leading French owners, the Papot family as they landed success in two of the three Grade One races, including the feature €900,000 Grand Steeplechase de Paris before being nosed out of success in the third Grade One contest.
The two and three-quarter mile Grade One Prix Ferdinand Dufaure over fences was contested by a select field, with the Kevin Nabet ridden Altura heading the market. On this occasion, the favourite's supporters saw her pull too hard going to the front early and trying to make all of the running.
Lanivtsi had travelled well throughout, sitting in behind the leader a couple of lengths adrift before being produced at the last to go on and win. Sent clear, it looked all over in a matter of strides, but the trip and ground also saw him tiring late on as the pack closed in, though he eventually held on to win by a length and a quarter and followed his success over a shorter distance last month in a trial race.
The second of the Grade One victories for connections came in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris which saw Diamond Carl run out a six-length winner defeating Kolokico with Grandeur Nature a further eight and half lengths away in third. The success was the first in the race for leading trainer François Nicolle.
The last of the Grade One races, the Prix Alan du Breil – Course de Haies de Printemps des Quatre Ans over two miles and three furlongs saw Six Figures sent off at the head of the market. The race on paper was competitive and so it proved, with a photo finish needed at the end to determine the winner with Kivala Du Berlais hanging on in a desperate finish with a nose splitting first and second, with Musique Maestro filling the runner-up spot.
The early leader Nikkaluokta was overtaken before the final obstacle, as Six Figures and Kivala du Berlais battled for the front and appeared to be the two to fight out the finish, but Musique Maestro was closing at speed to force a photo finish. When the result was announced it was the Felix de Giles ridden gelding Kivala du Berlais who had just held on by a nose, narrowly denying Music Maestro - and the Papot family – with Six Figures a neck behind in third after being caught by the front two late on.
It was a late ride for winning jockey Felix de Giles who after the race said:
"I never thought I'd win. The horse was tiring a lot. He had a hard time finishing the job. I really wanted the rail on the right hand side, but found myself blocked. If I'd got beaten, I'd have been embarrassed!. I really have to thank everyone, of course David Cottin, and his great team. I really wanted to David because we've had some great winners together.
"I wasn't sure if I should take the spare ride today but it's been an incredible journey and I hope it will continue."
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