The “President” Kyrielle des Vaux missing when called, Kyt Kat (Test Prize 2023, Elite Prize 2024) and Kalif Landia (Prix de Vincennes 2023) are the only two classic winners listed in the list of thirteen contenders for this third edition of the Prix Jag de Bellouet, previously won by Ideal Oak et Joumba de Guez.
Entrusted for the first time to Éric Raffin, Kyt Kat approaches this targeted race on the heels of a very disappointing performance, which Thomas Levesque thus justified to David Fricaux: “Equipped with a quarter of blinkers, he had pulled too much on the descent. He worked very well Monday morning and knows how to do everything. Unshod on all four feet, he will run to win. I am particularly wary of a filly like Kelly de Banville.”
Contrary to Kyt Kat, who likes to wait, the powerful Kalif Landia never needed anyone. If he had not been thwarted by a rival at the top of the climb in the Elites, he could have beaten his rival. We met an enthusiastic Alexis Grimault in Grosbois: “During his last races, Caliph was not at all comfortable and lost a lot of time in the final turn, then failed to reaccelerate at the end. I had his feet and back treated. It seems much more flexible to me. I leave it comfortable in the front and find it extra for this objective.”
Ambitious females
Kelly de Banville has dominated the males several times on a regular basis, in the same way as So Dream et Kapaula de l’Epine. These three have a whopping ten victories in the groups! Regarding the second place in the President of the Republic Prize, Stéphane Bourlier told Arnaud Lecomte: “It will present itself with more freshness than in the spring classic. She’s perfect.” Having become much more constant since she performed barefoot, the protégé of Etienne Dubois gets along wonderfully with Damien Bonne. As for Jérémy Van Eeckhaute, he considers that Kapaula de l’Epine “will have no problem succeeding over this long distance, provided she oxygenates well. If she finishes in the top three or four, I would be very happy.”
What if Mathieu Mottier achieved an additional coup this winter? He chose to abandon Kyt Kat to line up his resident Kaviarissima, certainly a neophyte in this specialty (his own sister’s favorite, Lovissime) but boasting the most brilliant titles of the peloton in harness. Keengame, Kid Bellay, Katinka Aimef or Elise Ana, that “JMB” advises to keep an eye on, can also believe in their lucky star.
Also find out about this Sunday’s meeting in Vincennes
Sunday December 15, 2024 at Paris-Vincennes – Prix de Vincennes (Gr. I): Lionheart, the roar of the invincible
Sunday December 15, 2024 at Paris-Vincennes: Mathieu Mottier well armed in Groups I
