Magnificent Anglo-Arabian horse, Korral showed himself sovereign on the last day of 2024 to add his name to the prize list of the Prix des Pyrénées – Grand Steeple-Chase for 4-year-olds, in Pau, under the saddle of Felix de Giles. This son of Secret Agent offers a new success during a meeting in Béarn to Éric Leray and Claude-Olivier Corral, who had already experienced great moments during the previous one, thanks not only to Korral but also to his own sister, Jamailya.
Korral, surrounded on both sides by his breeder-owners, Éric Leray and Claude-Olivier Corral, after his coronation in the Prix des Pyrénées – Grand Steeple-Chase des 4 Ans, in Pau, under the saddle of Felix de Giles (© Aidan Gabard)
Ensemble, Eric Leray et Claude-Olivier Corral had already experienced a superb Pau 2023-2024 meeting, notably due to the success of Jamayla (Secret Agent) in the Prix de Buros, in steeplechase, and that of Once (Secret Agent) in the Prix Émile Lestorte, over hurdles, for what was also the very first appearance on a racecourse… of the full brother of the first city! And the least we can say is that that of 2024-2025 also gets off to a very good start, with the victory of this same Korral in the Prix des Pyrénées – Grand Steeple-Chase des 4 Ans, the one of the great highlights of the late season for the Anglo-Arabs on the Béarnais obstacles, which took place at the Pont-Long racecourse on Tuesday December 31.
Korral and Felix de Giles, aerial on the tribune river during the Prix des Pyrénées – Grand Steeple-Chase for 4-year-olds on December 31, in Pau (© Aidan Gabard)
Edited by Felix of Gilesthis representative of the colors of Jeanette & Victor Blotare the same ones worn by cross country champions like Archy Bald (Carmont) or more recently Ever Forget Me (Nidor), moved for a long time in sixth position in the peloton, before gradually getting closer on the last pass in front then leaving no chance to his rivals on the flat, to finally win with real authority. Second place was taken by Wooden Weight (Masked Marvel), three and a half lengths further back, and the third by Kobe of Brunie (Masterofthehorse), another four and a half lengths further.
Korral and Felix de Giles, racing towards victory in the 2024 edition of the Prix des Pyrénées – Grand Steeple-Chase des 4 Ans at the Pont-Long racecourse, in Pau (© Aidan Gabard)
Raised by Claude-Olivier Corral et Eric LerayKorral is an Anglo-Arab at 12.68% for 5 years now, by Agent Secret (Pyrus), one of the stallions of theBreeding of the Haute Chaussée d’Eric Lerayand Miss Camailya (Nidor), of which it is the very first product. Winner on the flat and multiple placed over obstacle, the latter is a sister of Goiter (Marly River), a winner of the Prix Émile Lestorte, but also of the Prix Louis-Alexandre Sers and the Tursan, on the same Pau racecourse. He also finished third in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Printemps du Lion d’Angers (L.), in 2010, against his thoroughbred and AQPS counterparts. Also at the origin of Jamayla therefore, who alternates the flat and the obstacle with happiness, Miss Camailya is also a sister of the excellent Nutmeg (Marly River), six-time winner over obstacles, notably in the Anglo-Arab Cup, on the same Pont-Long racecourse. The latter then became the mother of several good competitors, including Janiculum (Balko), who won the 2023 Anglo-Arab National Steeple-Chase in Auteuil.
Having participated in the 2022 edition of the Grand Show Anglo Course, Korral is also a nephew ofEzekiel de Kerser (Muhaymin), who had notably won the Grand Prix de la Ville d’Ajaccio and the Grand Prix de la Ville de Prunelli-di-Fiumorbo, as well as the Prix Émile Lestorte in obstacle, but also of Lady of War (Balko) whose name appears on the prize list of a Prix André Valat, on the Pompadour steeple. As tall as he is athletic, he now has three competitive victories, the first in steeplechase, after having shone over hurdles, during the Prix Émile Lestorte, as well as in the Prix Croucracq, on the flat, on the racecourse of Agen.
PHOTO GALLERY (by Aidan Gabard)
