Koctail du Dain, a millionaire at the top of the bill

Twenty-four hours before the Prix d’Amérique, the temperature will rise a notch in Vincennes. On Saturday, two classics will open the show in the premier event. The now traditional Prix Ourasi and Bold Eagle (2,700m – GP) will be on display. If the first is reserved for 4 year olds (Lovino Bello, Lombok Night, First of Mind, Frank Gio…), the second, which will pit the 5-year-olds against each other, will serve as support for Quinté+. There will be 18 of them seeking succession to Jushua Tree.

Cédric Bloquet, our tipster, placed at the top of his selection Koctel du Dain (18). “He has just won brilliantly on this type of course and still deserves great credit”, he explains. As in his best days, this son of Boccador de Simm imposed its supremacy in force in the Prix de Croix (2,850 m – GP), the final preparatory event for this highlight. All in the good reduction of 1’12”7. “I was never worriedsavored its pilot, David Thomain. He showed again what he could do on a course that he likes. During previous outings, he mainly ran on speed courses, without being lucky either. We will arrive confident in the Bold Eagle Prize.” At the end of this success, the resident of Philippe Allaire is the first trotter of his generation to achieve the feat of reaching the symbolic mark of one million euros. A new status, at such a young age, which assured him his place at the start of the Prix d’Amérique. It is certain that the mission for the final coronation appears less arduous compared to its contemporaries than compared to the Go On Boy, Idao de Tillard and others. Considering the style of his recent victory, Koctel du Dain is a serious contender for the title, especially since Keep Going (“C4” and Critérium Continental 2024), which is part of the casting of the Prix d’Amérique, is absent. After the Critérium des Jeunes and the Prix Albert Viel 2023, the likely favorite of racegoers has the means to adorn his rich record with a third classic.

Ksar, he too wants to be imperial

Our specialist placed second Ksar (11). Not seen since his fourth place in the Critérium Continental, where he hit the binoculars at the end of the race, this son of Follow You deserves to be crowned at the highest level. “Since then, I’ve been waiting for this race. He was able to regain freshness and seriously prepare for this objective”confides Emmanuel Varin to our journalist, Christophe Meyer. His feet have also grown, which allows me to present him “D4”. In this configuration, he never left the top four.” In third place, our expert’s choice fell on the transalpine East Asia (15). This resident of Alessandro Gocciadoro has just given a beautiful response to Keep Going in the Critérium Continental. The representative of Jean-Pierre Barjon ranked second, ahead of many of the rivals she found by several lengths. If the lengthening of the distance (she has only run once on the course for a ninth place in 2023) constitutes a reserve, this daughter of Ready Cash will be completely barefoot (the second time in his career) compared to the previous classic reference. And those around him want to be confident: “We can have big ambitions with her in this group I, but also in the future”, says Alessandro Manfredi, manager of Scuderia Gocciadoro.

Kana de Beylev (16), fifth in the “Continental”, appears fourth in his forecast. “There is opposition, but we are playing to winannounces his mentor, William Bigeon. If it makes its value, its place is in the top three.” For fifth place, his choice fell on Keenan de Joudes (5), recent fourth in the Prix de Croix. On the rise, and unshod on all four feet for the first time, this protégé of Jean-Philippe Monclin can strike a big blow. Everywhere (3), who has just left a very good impression in the final preparatory round, the Italian and training companion from East Asia, Executive Ek (12), which is better than its release in the “Continental”, and Immortal Doc (1), recent dolphin of Koctel du Daincompletely his selection of eight horses.

The numerical prediction of Cédric Bloquet (ParisTurf): 18-11-15-16-5-3-12-1

100% Quinté issue: Koctel du Dain, Christophe Meyer’s favorite

Koctel du Dain (18) : “He won the benchmark event, the Prix de Croix, contested on January 11. That day, he quickly took the train on his own, without ever being worried. He won with real authority. He’s the richest. He has surpassed one million in terms of earnings. It is also the fastest with Keenan de Joudes on the course, where he has already trotted 1’11”5. He can double the bet. He’s a champion. Lately he showed he’s still the boss.”

East Asia (15) : “At the end of September, she won strongly in a qualifying battery for the UET final. We said to ourselves : “This one is a machine.” Recently, she gave a very nice response to Keep Goingwhile it must have come thick in the final turn. Keep Going will be at the start of the Prix d’Amérique, which shows the quality ofEast Asia. She could, why not, impose herself. The 2,700 meters of the big track shouldn’t bother her.”

Ksar (11) : “In the Critérium Continental, he was still far from the leading horses at the entrance to the straight. He had inherited the number 16 behind the autostart, which explains this. And he came to finish with a bang all the way out. It was beautiful to see. He didn’t end up very far from Keep Going andEast Asia. Since then, he has regained freshness and will once again be barefoot. He ran barefoot three times, finishing in the top four three times.”

Keenan de Joudes (5) : “In June, he trotted 1’11”5 on this course, where he finished third behind Koctel du Dain which also showed the same time. That day, he was just “DP”. He has just finished fourth in the Prix de Croix although he lacked a little pep according to his trainer, Jean-Philippe Monclin. His mentor changed his bridle and intensified the exercises. But, above all, he will be barefoot for the first time. We can say to ourselves that it can go faster and, why not, give warmth to Koctel du Dain.”

Everywhere (3) : “At the beginning of December, she was strongest in a semi-classic. Then she was embarrassed in the Critérium Continental where she was disqualified at the start. Recently, she took an encouraging third place in the Prix de Croix while being tackled. Those around her wanted to preserve her feet for this goal, the Bold Eagle Prize, where she will be barefoot. She’s been hitting the strides lately. She can definitely play a very good role. Watch out for her.”