Joshua Tree completes rewarding week with second stakes success

Joshua Tree, who moved into the National Hunt ranks when relocating to Con O'Keeffe's Kilbarry Lodge Stud last year, made it a very good week in both spheres as his best son Top Max won the Listed Grand Prix des Provinces-Prix Andre Baboin in Marseille on Monday.

Alex Pantall's fine servant had given the 13-year-old, who spent his first four seasons at Haras du Grand Courgeon, a first stakes winner in last month's Grand Prix de la Region Grand Est at Strasbourg

Joshua Tree's early jump prospects have been appearing in France and last week at Compiegne, Hawai Tree gave him a maiden stakes victory over obstacles in the Listed Prix Vatalys, while last month there was also a recent win over hurdles at Clonmel for the Austrian-bred Nobel Joshua.

The four-year-old gelding Top Max, who has some hurdlers in his pedigree, has twice been placed in Group company this season and squeezed up the rail under Pierre-Charles Boudot and the hot favourite defied Flambeur by a cosy half a length.

Joshua Tree, a son of Montjeu, travelled widely during his career for a variety of trainers and is the only horse to have won the Grade 1 Canadian International three times.

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