Alexandre Abrivard rides the top favourites

Paris-Vincennes, Friday, 24 March: The winter meeting is only a few weeks old and already the spring season is being ushered in on the Plateau de Gravelle. The main players today are the three-year-old saddle trotters, who will compete in two Group 2 races, separated by gender.

In the Prix Felicien Gauvreau (1st race/16.03 h/120,000 Euro/2200 m), the way to victory for the stallions leads over Kifil de Bussy (Alexandre Abrivard), who has not yet found a conqueror in three starts in the new métier this year. Most recently, in the Prix Edouard Marcillac (Group 3), he took four lengths off Kimbo Berry (Christopher Corbineau). The Bazire protégé did not play a role in front of the sulky at the moment, but at the beginning of the year the three-year-old won a `D` race in superior fashion ahead of King Stallion (Eric Raffin), who later celebrated a success over Killer Victory (Jean Dersoir).

The Prix Ali Hawas (3rd race/17.13/120,000 Euro/2200 m) also has a clear favourite, in which Karlita (Alexandre Abrivard) is the mare to beat after two Monté victories. She gave a taste of her extraordinary ability on 16 February in the Prix Holly du Locton (Group 3). With a superior lead she outclassed Kouba d`Ourville (Damien Bonne), Kaleda Gema (Benjamin Rochard), Kabaka de Guez (Yoann Lebourgeois) and Kelanie Lorraine (Anthony Barrier), who finished next. The latter went on to win the Prix de Vire Normandie (Course B) easily against Kaya Dream and Kandora Bella (Camille Levesque).