Huge twist of theater in the first turn with the mistake of the big favorite, Jeroboam of Maple, which was great throughout the week in Grosbois, but not at all reassuring during his pre-race warm-ups. “He was “catastrophic” after tripping during his harness heat, explained David Thomain to Christophe Meyer. He doesn’t limp when he walks or trots, but we’re going to take him to the clinic tomorrow morning for x-rays.”
And she is the runner-up to the leader of the promotion in the final qualifying event, Jezabelle Bie, who took advantage of this imponderable to win the laurels in the Prix Bilibili by posting 1’11”7, the second best reduction in mileage among 5-year-olds over the 2,700 meters of the big track, after 1’11” 5 of Draft Life when she placed second in the Cornulier 2018, ahead of… Bilibili
First attempt, masterstroke at group I level for the stallion Dijon (including the “J” are the first products), but also and above all for Michaël Izzo – nicknamed “Mike”, whose first starter dates back to July 2022. “Seven or eight years ago, I was an amateur driver, recalled the young 33-year-old coach to our reporter’s microphone. I can’t realize… As she’s a mare with sore feet, we waited until the big day to unshoe her when ridden. From my first participation in a group I, I won and moreover for the coat of my father, who also bred the mare with our friends Jean-Pierre and Nicolas Ensch. As for “Paulo” (Ploquin), This is my best friend. It’s truly magical! I would like to thank Michel and Claire Lenoir (editor’s note, his in-laws)without whom I would never have gotten to this point.”
“A historic victory”
Second of the previous edition with Ideal of Oak, Paul Ploquin (current runner-up to Mathieu Mottier in the Etrier d’Or ranking) played an important role in the meteoric rise of Jezabelle Bie, whom he considered capable of standing out in groups for several months, even if she finally had to wait for her twelfth appearance on the ashes (where her grandmother, misrev, won a quinté in 2006 with Nicolas Ensch on the sulky) to cross the post in the lead. In this hyper-paced event, he rode very patiently. “In the last turn, I had a lot of resources behind my rivals. I believed in it all along the straight. She was going fast and even almost rushed for a moment. “Mike” gave him a very good preparation. It’s great!”
Co-breeder and owner, the trainer’s father, Jean-Philippe Izzo (former international football referee), was misty-eyed and savored in front of Christophe Meyer’s camera this “historic victory, the 158th for my team (editor’s note, the first dating back to 2002 on his Cagnois lands, with Key Biscayne). In a group I… I can’t believe it! Bravo to “Mike”: he started everything from scratch with Jezebelle, who experienced many health problems during his career.”
Now qualified for the Prix de Cornulier, Jezabelle Bie is however not sure of participating according to Michaël Izzo. “Honestly, I don’t know yet because my jockey is detained on Ideal of Oak. We are already going to savor this one.”
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