Saint Palois makes light of testing conditions
Report: France, Tuesday
Pau
SAINT PALOIS (Jacques Ortet/David Cottin) made it three wins out of three at Pau this winter when taking the four-year-old chase which headlined Tuesday's card, the Prix Jean Bernadotte.
Saint Palois created a good impression when recording narrow successes in his two previous starts at the track, but really stamped his authority in defeating stablemate Usual Time by eight lengths in testing conditions.
Carrying the Rubi Ball colours of the Papot family, the winner is now likely to start a warm favourite for the Listed Prix Antoine de Palaminy at the course later in the month.
Cottin said: "It will take a really strong one to beat him under these conditions in three weeks time."
That will be the next start for Saint Palois, but Ortet is already looking further down the road at major targets in the spring back in the capital.
"He has progressed with each run," reported the trainer. "He's a really good horse who could capture some big prizes at Auteuil."
The day's racing was conducted on very heavy ground, but it's not the prospect of further rain but snow and ice which has led officials to cancel the jumps portion of Friday's programme.
The Listed Prix Camille Duboscq for four-year-olds over hurdles will now form part of a ten-race card on Sunday assuming the weather clears.
Other features on that day are scheduled to be Pau's Grande Course de Haies, as well as the first leg of the 2012 Crystal Cup Cross Country series, the Prix Gaston de Bataille.
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