Class reunion of the vintages for 300,000 euros each

Paris-Vincennes, Sunday, 18 September: Derby day today in Vincennes, where the elite of three-, four- and five-year-old horses will compete for 300,000 Euros each.

In the Critérium des 5 Ans (4th race/15.15/3000 m) almost all the participants who contested the Prix Jockey (Group 2) here about a fortnight ago will meet again. Hooker Berry (Nicolas Bazire) won the hard-fought match against the surprisingly strong Hip Hop Haufor (Christian Bigeon) and Hohneck (Francois Lagadeuc), who disappointed somewhat as the favourite and could only hold his own against Hokkaido Jiel (David Thomain) in third. Happy Valley (Jean-Philippe Dubois) did not come around the course smoothly in that race, but was close to the winning Hohneck in her Prix Louis Jariel (Group 2) honours.

14 horses will contest the Critérium des 3 Ans (6th race/16.30/2700 m). Here Juninho Dry (Paul Philippe Ploquin) grants revenge to Just A Gigolo (Franck Nivard), who surprisingly lost the Prix Jacques de Vauloge (Group 2). In the previous trial, the Allaire protégé easily defeated his latest conqueror and also left Joyner Sport (David Thomain), Jaguar Griff (Romain Hue), Jaguar Wit (Tony Le Beller), Jakartas des Pres (Jean-Michel Bazire) and Just For Lova (Antoine Lherete) behind. Jamaica Turbo (Franck Ouvrie) registers first chances as winner of the Prix Annick Dreux (Group 2) over Jazzy Perrine (Eric Raffin), Juliet Papa Bravo (Clement Duvaldestin) and Janka Somolli (Matthieu Abrivard).

The Critérium des 4 Ans (7th race/5.10pm/2850m) promises to be an exciting outcome. After the recent retirement of Idao de Tillard (Clement Duvaldestin) in the Prix Gaston Brunet (Group 2), the stallion wants to do everything right this time and leave behind Italiano Vero (David Thomain) and Izoard Vedaquais (Eric Raffin), who are fighting for victory on 3 September. In his performance in the Prix Phaetaon (Group 2), the four-year-old left no doubt about his class. He had everything under control against Instrumentaliste (Gabriele Gelormini) and the two Allaire competitors.