Coquaholy shows himself to be the strongest in the quinté of June 3, 2024 in Vichy

Contested over the long distance of 3,525 meters, this first major meeting of the Vichy trotting season allowed Erik Bondo’s resident, Coquaholy, to win the prize, after a great final fight. Winner in his first outing for his new trainer, the son of Orlando Vici, unshod as last place, showed himself pugnacious to dominate after a great fight Anthem of the Gers. Brought back into the car of two, then with his nose to the wind to approach the last thousand meters, the protégé of Erik Bondo, battling with three rivals at mid-straight, seems dominated, but then sprints hard to snatch success. “I had a good race, being hidden during the first two thousand meters, then a little with my nose to the wind afterwards, but without trying to accelerate. Nicolas (Bazire) had a great ride behind me. Halfway through the straight, he took the lead, but I still had to use the earplugs. When you pull the strings, he falls on his stomach. He has a great career ahead. Today, facing older horses, used to fighting, he showed his abilities. It will probably be preserved for this winter. It’s a great victory with a good horse,” declared his driver, Gabriele Gelormini. Narrowly dominated at the end of a beautiful final battle, Anthem of the Gers gave satisfaction to Nicolas Bazire: “I believed it halfway through the straight, but Gaby had kept a little something. Mine isn’t the bravest. Running in the provinces gives him morale, it’s a change from Vincennes.” Third, Horace du Goutier also achieves a stellar performance. “I think I was beaten by the two horses in the race, who set off at the first post. He restores his value”, underlined his driver, Hugues Monthulé. Excellent in iron current, having created an illusion in mid-straight line, Ister Man left Jonathan Cuoq with regrets: “He was ultimately dominated by unshod horses. I believe he could have won barefoot.”