Saddle trotters on a big stage

Paris-Vincennes, Sunday, December 18: Great races will be decided today at Vincennes, where two qualifiers for the Prix de Cornulier will take center stage.


In the Prix Jag de Bellouet (5th race/13.23pm/200,000 euros/2700m), the four-year-old saddle trotters are among themselves. Izoard Vedaquais (Eric Raffin) makes his debut in this discipline. The Allaire protégé has won 15 of his 24 starts, but currently he is not really winning. In his most recent appearance, he even came away empty-handed, landing on the `tower` after an extensive canter. His main challenge is Intuition (Adrien Lamy), who proved his great class in the Prix des Elites (Group 1). In a commanding manner, she defeated Ines des Rioults (Benjamin Rochard) and Ideale du Chêne (Paul Philipp Ploquin), who are again in contention for places. The latter two were just six days ago in the Prix Philippe du Rozier (Group 2) at the expiry and were defeated by the outstanding Inshore (Alexandre Abrivard).


Five-year-old Monté specialists are the target of the Prix Bilibili (7th race/14.33pm/200,000 euros/2700m), in which Hirondelle du Rib (Jean Dersoir) is due to win. The five-year-old announced herself emphatically a week ago in the Prix Herve Ceran-Maillard (Group 2), but in the end had to let Balsamine Font (Leo Abrivard) and Happy and Lucky (Adrien Lamy) draw clear. Judging by the result in the Prix Edmond Henry (Group 2), Hanna des Molles also has first chances. She defeated Happy and Lucky after a fight, who in turn clearly left Hannah (Eric Raffin), Heradames (David Thomain) and Hirondelle du Rib behind.


Another Group 1 level riding will be held with the Prix de Vincennes (3rd race/12.10pm/240,000 euros/2700m). J`Aime le Foot (David Thomain) already rose to become a classic winner in the Saint-Leger des Trotteur. In the Prix Raoul Balliere (Group 2), the three-year-old did not come into his own as expected and was clearly beaten by stablemate Joyner Sport (Alexandre Abrivard) as well as Jakartas des Pres (Julien Balu) and Joyeuse (Mathieu Mottier). Jaguar du Goutier (Damien Bonne), who had recommended himself for bigger tasks with a superior triumph on December 1, could interfere in the renewed duel. Jessy de Banville (Florian Desmigneux), who lost out to J`Aime le Foot in Caen, must also be taken into account.