Gazelle de Val was performing for the first time at such a competitive level, but in races, visual impressions rarely lie. “Although I am not surprised to see her win in this group II, we still had to confirm on the track”debriefs Mathieu Mottier, who has been associated with him on each of his appearances under the saddle, since his debut on May 13, 2024 in Lisieux. “That day, I didn’t imagine that she would travel such a path, admitted Eric Lambertz on the podium. My mare has climbed levels 4 to 4.”
While she had accustomed us to playing wait-and-see before setting her supersonic speed, Gazelle de Val assumed his status as a scarecrow. “We looked at each other a lot until one lap from the finish, told the Etrier d’Or 2024. It was not premeditated to go in front but I took this option on the way down, before extending the shot from the post of the last kilometer. She was perfect, starting well on her own in the straight. I hope this will have been beneficial for him next time.”
Now qualified for the Prix de Cornulier, of which she will belong to the list of favorites (or rather favorites, as the hegemony of females continues in the specialty), Gazelle de Val will face the biggest challenge of his career on Sunday January 19. “You have to be complete to win this group I and my mare doesn’t have too many faults, continued Mathieu Mottier. It will still be much more difficult, because all our rivals will line up at 150% that day.”
Guillaume Lenain in heaven
“There remains a very long step to climb”added Eric Lambertz, winner of his fifth group at Vincennes, Gazelle de Val having succeeded Udyjamo du Hamel (Théophile Lallouet Prize 1993) and Viking de Val (Caecilia Prize 2013, Robert Auvray and Jockey Prize 2014). The Mayennais will present his first runner in the Cornulier, after having participated in two Prix d’Amérique (Indian kid in 2001 and the aforementioned Viking de Val in 2016). “In terms of preparation, it will be easier to manage than the past month with this mare not nervous, but tense by nature. She’s ready, now all she has to do is maintain her shape.”
They also trained in department 53, Edition Géma and the youngest Jasmine de Vau completed the podium. Partner of the venerable 11 year old, Guillaume Martin did not hide his satisfaction: “Her last outing didn’t count, because she was only tackled and not on her distance. There she showed her true colors. While diving with the rope, I believed it for a short moment but Mathieu’s mare did not relax. Mine will be 100% in two weeks, it just needs the right route.”
Associated with Guillaume Lenain, Jasmine de Vau (left) made her effort alone, isolated in the middle of the track, in the finish line of the Prix du Calvados.
© SCOOPDYGA – LABROSSE BRAD
With barely more than 170,000 euros in winnings, Jasmine de Vau will have the No. 1 saddle pad in the premier event, to the delight of “President 2024”, Guillaume Lenain. “She completed five hundred very good last meters to win her ticket. I am going to participate in my first Cornulier with a resident of my boss, Charles Dreux. It’s cool!”
Finished fourth, Half will now have to count on withdrawals to be part of the party, as opposed toIna du Rib, about which Joël Hallais commented: “She ran well. We are on time, but there will be opposition…”Only plated from the front and not equipped with blinkers, Ideal Oak was unable to compete, as Julien Le Mer had announced; she will have completely different ambitions on the big day.
Read also about the meeting on Sunday January 5, 2025 at Paris-Vincennes:
One, “Dreux”, three…
A nod to a former excellent mare of large quintés trained by Guy-Maurice Dreux to evoke a formidable family triumph in this edition of the Prix du Calvados. If the coaches who formed the podium have in common the preparation of their residents in Mayenne (53), above all they belong to the same family. The mother of Eric Lambertz (Gazelle de Val) is in fact a sister of the famous professionals Georges and André-Louis Dreux, including the representatives of the new wave, Marc Sassier (Edition Géma) and Charles Dreux (Jasmine de Vau)are respectively grandsons.
Mayenne’s most recent victory in this prestigious event dates back to 2007 with the famous gelding Martellier Mage, coached by the late Régis Perroteau. As for the family of heroes of 2025, they shone there via the nine-time Etrier d’Or Yves Dreux, in 1985 (above) et 1981 (Baroque Idea).
