Around the stands, the average age of the spectators had registered a downward shock. Another facelift at the Pont Long after “Christmas at the racecourse”.
Sunday noon at Pont Long, huge attendance.
Francis Troy
The patience of Lucas Vandamme
The Prix de Denguin opened the program on the PSF (fiber sand track). Grecian Storm, saddled by Jean-Bernard Duboscq, Jean-Claude Rouget’s deputy, offered a first success in this Meeting to a training in full restructuring following the sale of the Deauville branch to Arqana. Jean-Bernard Eyquem had adopted the house tactic, namely the waiting race, adapted to leave the outsider Valzak and Indie Bright three lengths behind. Patient, the young Lucas Vandamme, apprentice to Jérôme Delaunay, was patient: “The objective was for him not to shoot and to come as late as possible. »
Francis Troy
The lads and pillars of the Rouget stable, Jean-René Duboscq and the house jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem around Grecian Storm, winner of the opening event.
Mission accomplished in the saddle on the favorite Astrologer, who had sailed at the back of the peloton and was still in 4th position at the penultimate obstacle of the Prix de Morlaàs, a handicap on the brooms whose arrival raised the enthusiasm of the huge audience.
Francis Troy
Young Lucas Vandamme, the apprentice with nerves of steel, winner of the 4-year-old handicap on Astrologer.
Another handicap but on the Flat, the Prix de Cauterets was the occasion of a female victory, that of Shana Topin on Kirky, saddled by Philippe Sogorb. The Mons professional came, thanks to this fifth winner, to tickle Julian Resimont into the lead in the Plat coaches’ challenge.
Super heavy
At 1 p.m., it was time for the John Henry Wright Cross in an atmosphere worthy of the Grand Cross. Great favorite, Hip Hop Conti had to be referred from a previous race before the start. Is this the reason for his failure against Saint Godefroy, who pranced in the lead throughout the 5,000 meters? No. Clément Lefebvre explained his hot race: “The horse did not have its usual behavior in this very heavy terrain [5 au pénétromètre, NDLR]. It went wrong, then tinkered repeatedly. I tried to respect the horse so as not to compromise everything. Coming out of the final bend, we were ten lengths behind; we finish less than two as we pass the post. If the ground dries up for the Grand Cross, things will be completely different. »
We witnessed a beautiful sporting spectacle, enhanced by perfect crossings of the Gros Passages de Route. Looking forward to February 9th for the rematch. Patrice Quinton and Emmanuel Clayeux will monitor the weather like us. A little borrowed at the start, Interdit de Jeu balanced well to take the second place five lengths ahead of Iridia and behind Hemevoici. Uniketat, who was making his comeback, finished far away.
