What were the confirmations and the great impressions during his five Group Is, here is what you need to remember.
This Sunday, the spectacle was really there on the Plateau de Gravelle, and the champions were able to respond, the various successes in the main races not having really suffered from discussions. Nevertheless, some beautiful impressions are to be remembered and, if they remain personal, these beautiful impressions could also reach the heights in the weeks and months to come. My five favorites, excluding the winner.
Let’s proceed chronologically, with the first of these five Groups I which took place in the Prix d’Essai and the three years under the saddle. In this event, a twist took place in the first meters of the race, with the fault of LITTLE ORELIE. Her rivals taking off, LEXIE DE BANVILLE was going to sign a clear and nice success, but the note will remain the resident of Mathieu Mottier, the filly finding herself very far away, well over 50 meters, after her escapade, but then performing a remarkable, and noticed a comeback, even creating the illusion of victory in the last turn, before having to logically let the winner and LUTIN DES BORDES slip away. Also note that LOVISSIME did well for his first test at this level. Favorite: LITTLE ORELIE.
In the Normandy Prize, victory went to JEROBOAM D’ERABLE, Clément Thomain’s champion fully confirming his rise to power, he who had already made a very good impression previously by winning the Vicor Cavey Prize. A success that is difficult to deny, its toughness is marvelous and this success is well deserved. Nevertheless, I will remember the course of JADE D’AMOUR, one of the least wealthy at the start, who ensured her preparation, but who signed a beautiful course behind, coming to a pleasant conclusion, and visibly without having drawn excessively in its resources, in fifth place. She should assert herself among the best in the future, also finding some good entries in closed races. Favorite: JADE OF LOVE.
Then came the elite of the older trotters in the Prix René Baillière and its speed course of 2100 meters started with the help of the autostart. Expected match between HORSY DREAM, winner of the Elitloppet and the Prix de l’Atlantique previously, and IDAO DE TILLARD, the crack winner, notably, of the last Prix d’Amérique. If the match took place, it was with assurance that HORSY DREAM came to put everyone in agreement, placing a lightning acceleration as soon as Eric Raffin asked him to. Here again, the victory was magnificent and amply deserved. However, it is the course of HOKKAIDO JIEL that I will highlight. Being the one who attacked in third thickness in the last bend after having waited, the pupil of Jean-Luc Dersoir magnificently sustained his effort. Indeed, coming as the race was about to start, one could have legitimately thought that he would mark time at the end, but, if he suffered somewhat from the acceleration of those who benefited from a better course of the race than him, he still put in a push at the end, signing a high-flying performance, he who was the defending champion, which is reflected in the partial times. He is indeed one of the very best in the country! Favorite: HOKKAIDO JIEL.
Back under the saddle then in the President of the Republic prize, it was KYRIELLE DES VAUX who was crowned there. Gently brought into condition in the preparatory stages with a view to this major objective, Charley Mottier’s student was able to ensure her preparation, which is not always the case with her. When she went on the attack, there was her and the others, in a race which had been led by KAPAULA DE L’EPINE. In addition to this success, I will however remember KARMA’s journey for his first in the discipline. After showing serious ability in the harness, he was still in the lead at the last turn when he lost the right rhythm in his gaits, and he still seemed to have quite a lot of resources. I think that once it is well adjusted, it will be able to “do badly” in the specialty and could become the leader in this category. Favorite: KARMA.
Finally, this superb series of five Group Is ended in the Albert Viel Prize, an Albert Viel Prize where BELINA JOSSELYN’s daughter, LIZA JOSSELYN, was the attraction for her first appearance at such a level, and for the first time facing the foals. The resident of Jean-Michel Bazire was in no way unworthy, but it was LOMBOK JIEL who came to win. Poulain having already “shown everything” throughout his outings, without having yet been a winner at the highest level, this victory was anything but a surprise, ultimately only confirming what many had been thinking for several months, that is to say that it was a leading subject. Excellent, the future seems bright for this son of ENINO DU POMMEREUX, training companion of HOKKAIDO JIEL. If my real favorite is him, I will stick to the principle of notifying a favorite other than the winner, and it is to LOULOU DE MYE, second, that I will award it. Although having benefited from the ideal course behind LIZA JOSSELYN, her second place still confirms her quality, coming to dominate the latter at the end, and this trio leaving their opponents at a very clear distance. He has not yet won Group I, but he should find the opportunity to fill this gap fairly quickly. Favorite: LOULOU DE MYE.
Photo Scoopdyga: Arrival of the René Ballière prize
