IRISH-trained horses won two of the graded events at Auteuil on Saturday evening.
Easy does it for Bapaume who wins the Grade 2 Prix La Barka in nice style for Willie Mullins at Auteuil: pic.twitter.com/42ur6NzGpH
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 9, 2018
Bapaume carried the famous Ricci colours to a six-length victory in the Grade 2 Prix La Barka, a two-mile, three-and-a-half-furlong contest over hurdles. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, who returned at odds of 36/5, was ridden by Paul Townend.
Asthuria (sixth), Shaneshill (eighth), Yorkhill (ninth), and Bleu Berry (last of 12) – all stable companions of the winner – finished down the field.
Mullins had been out of luck in the previous event – the Grade 3 Prix Questarabad over the same course and distance – when Stormy Island could finish only third to Master Dino (21/10), beaten a total of four lengths. Danny Mullins was on board.
Stable companion Saglawy was another 12 lengths behind, last of the five runners.
It's a quick double for Paul Townend as Baie Des Iles does the business in the Grade 2 Prix des Drags at Auteuil: pic.twitter.com/1RefHYKSjV
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 9, 2018
Then it was the turn of the Ross O'Sullivan stable as the talented mare Baie Des Iles, last seen out when coming home 12th in the Grand National at Aintree in April, sprang a 27/1 surprise in the Grade 2 Prix des Drags.
The seven-year-old grey took the two-mile, six-furlong chase by a length and a quarter from 6/5 favourite Bipolaire, and the win gave jockey Paul Townend a big-race double on the card.
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