Four weeks before the Prix La Haye Jousselin, the Prix Héros XII offered us a fairly complete squad review of the next protagonists of group I. Victory is never negligible in a group III, if only financially, but less for half of the peloton, the goal of this outing was elsewhere. Four competitors took their first steps on the outdoor course and two champions made their return, Together we win, the leader of the 2019 generation, and Great Goddess, the last winner of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.
This time, everything went well for the resident of David Cottin, who fell into group I of the spring. Quickly in control of the race, he set a regular pace and cleared all the obstacles without incident. In the end, he surely won by coldly repelling the attack of Diamond Carl, whose first steps on the outdoor course are conclusive. “He’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden, believes Felix de Giles about Together We Win. It is a horse that has great action, but remains capable of accelerating, while maintaining its action. He was a little watching, but jumped well.” A point which was not in doubt for David Cottin despite the disappointment of the month of May: “He was perfect, but for me he is an excellent jumper. You just have to understand it and trust it. It’s actually the only horse I still jump into action. With the others, I’m afraid (laughs). Him, I admit that I would take him up in the race.” Returning to the progress of the race, the Cantilian trainer explained why his resident had gone to the front even though he had not raced for 153 days: “They left slowly and his action took him away. He was calm throughout the course and very attentive to his jumps. I was never in doubt because I know his qualities. He’s a champion!”
“Gran Diose will progress on this outing”
Fourth, behind Berlais Tuscany back at the rendezvous, Great Goddess made a comeback which, judging by the hugs between the owners and the trainer after the race, met the expectations of those around him. “I was hoping that we would take a good third or fourth place, admits Louisa Carberry. But above all, even if we were lower ranked, the jockey had to be happy with his horse. It did. Great Goddess made a mistake on the last hurdle in the opposite line, but otherwise he jumped everything perfectly (notably the rail-ditch where he took two lengths from the host, Editor’s note). It’s not a terrain he likes but he didn’t give up until the end and made a very nice straight line. We are always afraid of giving them a very tough race for their return, but everything went ideally. I think he will improve on this outing.” We can’t wait to see everyone again in four weeks for the final explanation.
François Nicolle: “Diamond Carl has won his ticket”
François Nicolle, who had two residents at the start of the Prix Héros XII, analyzes their performance: “Diamond Carl made a very good performance, for his discovery of the outdoor track. If he does well, he will go to the Prix La Haye Jousselin. He got his ticket to participate. His worries are behind him, everything should be fine for the beauty. Concerning Figuero, we are all a little disappointed. We are chasing time with him, the beauty arrives very quickly. His comeback race was not enough. We don’t yet know what we are going to do, go to group I or to the consolation, the George Courtois Prize.” (Comments collected by SR)
