New name and new date for Decize cradle of future champions

He is the most famous graduate of the Decize AQPS Show and now Sprinter Sacre is being honoured by having the event named after him.

Bred and raised by Christophe Masle a few miles from Decize - a market town in the Nievre department of Burgundy three hours drive south of Paris - the son of Network was a star of the show as a foal in 2006 and now gives his name to the re-branded AQPS Sprinter Sacre Show.

The new name is arguably the least significant aspect of the changes brought in for the 2018 edition, which has been the first public sighting down the years of such AQPS (non-thoroughbred) jumping talent as Vroum Vroum Mag, Silviniaco Conti and, more recently, Espoir D'Allen and Bleu Berry, both of whom were class champions at Decize.

Organisers have brought the date forward by more than two months from it's traditional August slot to Friday June 8 in an effort to ensure the best-bred youngstock in the region make it into the catalogue before talent scouts from Britain and Ireland have scoured the region's farms.

And for the first time there will be sections of the competition devoted to 30 thoroughbred foals.

Harold Kirk (right) and Marcel Rolland judging a class at the Decize AQPS Show in 2017Credit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Fans of Vrom Vroum Mag will be doubly delighted by the presence of two siblings at the show, with Grise De Mag, a daughter of Gris De Gris, featuring in the two-year-old fillies division and Idylle Mag representing the first crop of Haras de Cery's Karaktar in the foal section.

Karaktar will also be represented by a half-brother to thoroughbred filly Lisa De Vassy, who was third on the Flat to Tosen Gift in the Listed Prix Rose De Mai in March and who has recently been purchased as a jumping prospect to join Paul Nicholls.

Another keenly-watched entry among the foals will be a full-sister to Bacardys, a Grade 1 conqueror of Finian's Oscar at the 2017 Punchestown Festival.

The Decize AQPS Show - now known as the Sprinter Sacre AQPS Show - will take place on Friday June 8Credit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

The Decize Show has always enjoyed a close relationship with the nearby Haras de Cercy, and their stallion roster will be out in force, including foals by recent acquisitions Elliptique and Free Port Lux as well as the second crop of Haras de la Hetraie's Bathyrhon, while the competition will feature two-year-olds from the final crop of Saddler Maker.

For all enquiries about attending the Sprinter Sacre Show, contact decize.aqps@gmail.com