Friday 23rd Auteuil - www.frogsracing.com - Rushwell (AQPS-Shanmer) seemed back to form after a summer break when the Isabelle de Saint Anthost homebred achieved his second Parisian victory and his first in a steeplechase against other AQPS horses, the Prix Adrien Besnouin (AQPS-4yos-4100m). The representative of Guy Cherel made ground steadily to overtake the leader Roi de France (Dark Moondancer) on the flat, while Rock and Co (Video Rock) finished strongly beating Rosignol Collonges (Brier Creek) who was carrying 72 kilos.

The Gerard Paul Levy runner had also almost lost his jockey at the large open ditch. Rushwell himself had to endure a little inconvenience at the water jump in front of the stands, when the leader, Rebel Cotte (Ragmar), fell. "I was not happy to see him jumping in the middle of the pack," said Guy Cherel, Rushwell's trainer. He did not jump very well early on and had fallen behind, but it is better to take a pull on him because he can be too keen in front. He has come back well to training seemed to lose his bearings early in the season."

Emilius - Macaire's AQPS beginners both on the mark

Two representatives of Guillaume Macaire won the two beginners hurdles both of which were called the Prix Emilius (Hurdles-3yos-3600m). Making ground along the rail with Spunk (AQPS-Laveron) close on his tail, the favourite of the first division, Saccageur (AQPS-Poliglote) jumped the penultimate hurdle alongside his rival but seemed beaten on jumping the last. However he came back on the flat to snatch victory from Spunk, who finished 2nd eight lengths ahead of his stable mate Salut L'Ami (AQPS-Subotica). The winner changed ownership after the first of his two wins on the flat and now runs in the colours of Maggy Bryant. The Pierre de Maleissye homebred is out of Ellapampa, a sister of champions Bipbap and Azertyuiop.
In the next division, the finish involved a lot less tension, Sulon (AQPS-Passing Sale), dominated the finish in the colours of Patrick Papot. The half brother of Ola du Sulon left his opponents in his wake on the flat. He has twice finished second on the flat, once to Sous les Cieux(AQPS) , and then to Sang Bleu(AQPS), the winner of the Pride of Kildare. Speaking on the merits of his two winners, Macaire said: "Saccageur was not helped by the heavy ground whereas the state of the track was in Sulon's favour. But the first is a very good horse and he has succeeded in his class. He has not the strength yet to get through this sort of ground. He is perfect because he switched off and doesn't pull. Sulon is a natural jumper and he will probably be a horse for the Prix Maurice Gillois next year."