Gr.2 Chase double for Planteur's son Gran Diose

Planteur’s son Gran Diose completed a Grade 2 double with a gutsy victory in the Gr.2 Prix Georges Courtois over 4,400m at Auteuil yesterday.

This was his fourth Chase Stakes success of the year having also won the Gr.2 Grand Steeple-Chase de Compiegne, the Gr.3 Prix Romati Chase and the Listed Prix Solitaire Chase all at Compiegne.

The six-year-old made smooth headway to lead after the third-last, but was unable to shake off the rallying Eddy De Balme until the last strides to win by a short neck and with 20 lengths back to Doctor Squeeze in third.

Trainer Louisa Carberry said: “Gran Diose is a horse who jumps wonderfully. In the past, we had doubts about his aptitude for sticky ground. He fought today to the post, he has showed us a lot! We have no questions about his quality. I am proud of the horse. This is huge for our small team and for his owner-breeders who are present. We knew that we had a good horse for Auteuil, but also he managed the longer distance and the outside course. Plus, he was giving weight back to everyone. We can imagine that he can still progress..."

Bred and raced by his owners, Luc Monnet and Frederic Hinderze, Gran Diose is out Noanoa (Walk In The Park), a dual winner over hurdles at Auteuil and a half-sister to Listed hurdler winners/performers Arenui and Tjongejonge. Noanoa will visit Planteur again in 2023.

Gran Diose is Planteur’s best runner over jumps and hopefully one of many more to come. Over hurdles Planteur has also sired Gr.2 Premio Criterium di Primavera Hurdle winner Edidindo, and on the Flat the dual Gr.1 winner and triple Gr.2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup victor, Trueshan.