Heron Island's daughter HIDIE was arguably unlucky not to become the first winner for Heron Island in a 4 year old maiden at Dromahane on Sunday November 14th. It was her debut run and she was almost brought down at the third last and ran on well to be beaten a total of 1 1/2 lengths. She was beaten by two geldings trained by Enda Bolger and Philip Fenton both of whom had run previously. HERON ISLAND has now had three point-to-point runners and all have been placed.
GREAT PALM and HERON ISLAND both enjoyed a great sale at Fairyhouse November. GREAT PALM averaged almost E11,000 with his foals and his median was E8,500 for the 26 foals sold and HERON ISLAND had 6 of his 8 catalogued foals sell for an average of E6,167 and a median of E7,750. The purchasers of his stock included Abbey Stables, John O'Byrne, Bishopstown Stud and Eugene McDermott.
PARADERO, a four year old son of Great Palm won his first start over hurdles on November 7th. Trained by J J Napoli he won the mile furlong event by 4 1/2 lengths.
GREAT LOVE ran a cracking race at Auteuil on November 1st. The race over 3 miles in bottomless ground was the Grand Prix d'Automne, a Grade 1 worth E250,000. Great Love finished a length second giving 5 lbs to the winner and his earnings now stand at over E700,000
NAROCK, a three year old gelding, finished third in the Listed Prix Roger de Minivielle at Enghien on October 30th. It was his third start over jumps for Betran de Balanda.
GREAT TRAVEL made his seasonal debut at Kempton on October 23rd and ran out an impressive winner. The Racing Post description sums it all up: "having travelled well throughout he cruised upsides the the leaders two out and then came clear on the bridle .. he could hardly have been more impressive" The race was a 2 mile Class B chase and it completed a four-timer on the day for the Paul Nicholls/Ruby Walsh team.
SID DOUR, a gelding by Great Palm, won on his debut over fences on October 17th. The race, run over 2 miles 1 furlong, saw the 3 year old win under top weight by 3 1/2 lengths and a distance.
ROCK AND PALM, a 4 year old gelding, came back off a four month layoff, to run second at Enghien on October 12th. Since he last appeared out, he has moved from Thomas Trapenard to the Porzier yard and he was set a stiff task on his return to action. The race was the listed Prix Dominique Sartini, a hurdle over 2 miles 2 furlongs and he was beaten a little over 2 lengths by Horizon de Toury, trained by Betran de Balanda.
NAROCK, a 3 year old son of Great Palm got his National Hunt career off to the best possible start at Auteuil on September 20th. A winner this April of a valuable handicap at Maisions-Laffitte for trainer Bertran de Balanda, Narock had to take on eight rivals in the Steeplechase over 2 miles 1 furlongs which was worth E44,000. Most of the opposition had prior jumping experience, hence it was no mean feat to win at this demanding track on his debut over jumps of any type let alone in a chase. The Guillaume Macaire trained Nadover, who had won twice and been second once in his three career starts, was a short priced favourite and was always handy before being collared after the last by Narock. The winner made up a lot of ground having been waited with in arrears for the majority of the race and there was 3/4 of a length between the principals at the line with a further 8 lengths and 6 lengths respectively back to the third and fourth place finishers.
IL FAIT REVER, a 4 year old gelding, won a conditions race over 11 furlongs on September 5th. Trained by K Borgel, I Fait Rever was giving 8 lbs to the second and 4 lbs to the third.
MATOURAKA, a 3 year old daughter of Great Palm won over 11 1/2 furlongs at Deauville on August 22nd.
Another new winner for Great Palm came on July 25th when his 3 year old daughter CAT IN THE RAIN won a maiden over 12 furlongs at Divonne.
MAHARANIE, a 5 year old mare, won again on July 18th, capturing a handicap over 11 furlongs.
Great Palm's 3 year old daughter MATOURAKA won on her third career start at Deauville on July 10th. Trained by Alex Fracas she won the 12 furlong event worth E16,000 by 2 lengths.
GREAT BLOOD made the transition to Group company on June 28th at Chantilly. The Prix de Bois is run over 5 furlongs and was won well by Divine Proportions, a daughter of Kingmambo and multiple stakes winner and stakes producer Myth To Reality. Great Blood finished second and there was 2 1/2 lengths back to Salut Thomas in third.
The only GREAT PALM entered in the Tattersalls Derby sale at Fairyhouse realised E120,000. The three year old grey gelding was purchased by Howard Johnson.
GREAT LOVE runs another blinder to finish second in the Grade 1 Grand Courses des Haies (French Champion hurdle) at Auteuil on June 19th.
RIVER PALM, a 3 year old son of Great Palm, won a E38,000 Handicap over 10 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud on June 7th. Carrying the second top weight, it was a good performance by the Roussel trained grey on his first visit to Paris.
A 3 year old son of Great Palm, GRIS PALM won his maiden over 11 1/2 furlongs at Tarbes on May 31st.
GREAT LOVE came back to his best form when capturing the Grade 2 Prix La Barka on May 30th. The 2 mile 5 furlong hurdle is worth E150,000 and attracted a top class field including the second Nickname, champion 4 year old hurdler in 2003 and the Willie Mullins trained pair Rule Supreme and Sadlers Wings. 2004 SunAlliance Chase winner Rule Supreme was third while Sadlers Wings took fourth place following up on his Grade 1 Novice hurdle victory at the Punchestown festival. The plan is now to head for the French Champion hurdle also at Auteuil on June 19th.
GREAT BLOOD by Great Palm staked her claim as being the best 2 year old seen in France to date with an easy 2 1/2 length win at Chantilly on May 17th. She is now unbeaten in her three starts to date, all of them over the minimum 5 furlong trip. The chesnut filly, trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, was named Thoroughbred Daily News' "Rising Star" on Tuesday last and they described the routing of her 7 opponents (and six previous winners) as: "Raced prominently from her outside draw and assumed absolute command before halfway. From there she was never in danger" . Olivier Peslier, who also rode her on her previous start at Longchamp was also very impressed saying that "this filly has bags of speed and loads of ability" At the moment the plan is head for the Prix du Bois, a Group 3 event over 5 furlongs at Chantilly on June 28th.
GREAT DAY, a 4 year old son of Great Palm's won on his first foray to Italy when capturing a conditions chase on April 21st. The 2 mile 2 furlong event was worth E16,000 to the winner.
Great Palm brought his tally of winners for the last three weeks to NINE when his daughter GREAT BLOOD, a 2 year old filly who won on March 20th, followed up on no uncertain fashion in a conditions race at Longchamp on April 11th. The 13 runner race, a class B event over 5 furlongs worth E31,000, saw the filly give her nearest rivals seven lbs and a four length beating and was described by the Thoroughbred Daily News:
"(Great Blood) won her only other start at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat Mar. 20. In this one, she stalked the lead in a close third until easing to the fore at halfway. The 21/10 second favourite quickened away from the field approaching the final furlong and pulled further clear in the closing stages to defeat Thunder Under by an impressive four lengths."
KIRITSOU, a 4 year old daughter of Great Palm's, won a conditions race over 7 1/2f. by 4 lengths on April 11th.
SID DOUR, a 3 year old son of Great Palm, won a 14f. maiden at Marseilles on April 10th. The half brother to Aintree winner Tidour was having only his third start following up his two third place finishes, one on the flat and one over hurdles.
On April 6th, Great Palm's son NAROCK collected at Maisions-Laffitte by 1 1/2 lengths. Trained by Betran de Balanda the 3 year old bay won the 11f. Handicap under a hands and heels ride.
Great Palm's recent run of winners continued when his son RIVER PALM, a three year old colt, won a conditions race over 11 1/2 furlongs on April 4th by 3 lengths for trainer M Roussel
Great Palm completed a double on the April 4th when his 5 year old daughter PRETTY PALM won a chase at Fontainebleau by 8 lengths
CALLISTAR, a 4 year old son of Great Palm won his second hurdle on March 26th. The conditions hurdle was run over 2 miles 2 furlongs at Marseilles and Callistar won by 2 lengths.
GREAT DAY, a 4 year old son of Great Palm, won a 2 mile 1 furlong hurdle at Auteuil on March 21st. On the same card GREAT LOVE was third in the Grade 3 Prix Hypoteuse, a hurdle run over 2 miles 3 1/2 furlongs. In this, his seasonal debut, Great Love was giving weight away all round and was beaten just 2 lengths by Nickname and Enemi d'Etat, both of whom had the benefit of a run in a Grade 2 event, also at Auteuil a fortnight earlier.
The second 2 year old race in France for 2004 was run at Bordeaux on March 20th. Jabal Safi, a colt by Pinmix, had won the first race but was comprehensively turned over by the debutante GREAT BLOOD. A daughter of Great Palm, Great Blood won the 5 furlong event very easily by 3 1/2 lengths.
GREAT TRAVEL collects his second chase at Sandown on February 20th, 2004. Despite Paul Nicholls pitching him in at the deep end and asking him to take on experienced handicappers, he still won the 2 mile event worth £20,000 under Bobby McNally. Once again the feature of his performance was his jumping which was magnificent. The following is the report of the race from The Racing Post:
"A cracking showcase handicap run at a rattling good pace and a taking performance from youngest in the field GREAT TRAVEL, who looks most progressive.
He impressed in the way he travelled easily into the lead three out and again he idled when clear, which makes it hard for the handicapper to get a take on him. He looks one to follow, especially as this better ground suited just as well as soft ground previously."
CALLISTAR, a 4 year old son of Great Palm, won his first hurdle for S A Ghoumrassi on February 16th. The race was a maiden hurdle over 2 miles and 3 furlongs and Callistar won easily by 4 1/2 lengths.
Francois Rohaut's great campaigner GUN'N ROSES, collected yet another race when winning a conditions race at February 15th. Gun'N Roses has won on the flat, over hurdles and over fences and this time he won over 9 1/2 furlongs at Bordeaux.
MAHARANIE, a 5 year old daughter of Great Palm, won a 9 furlong handicap at Marseilles. Trained by J C Napoli, she was winning for the sixth time in her career.
The Paul Nicholls trained GREAT TRAVEL wins a Novices chase at Folkestown on January 20th, 2004. On ground that was officially described as soft but appeared to ride a bit more testing, Great Travel carried joint top weight and put in a faultless round of jumping. He is still only a 5 year old and thankfully seems to have recovered his confidence under a typically good Ruby Walsh ride.
Last Updated November 15th, 2004