The day of the Regional Finals of the Trot Open des Régions has been marked on the calendar for a long time by local professionals. No. 2 driver at Croisé-Laroche in 2024 (5 wins and 28 places in 82 races, i.e. 40% success in the first five), behind the untouchable Pierre-Yves Verva, Franck Ouvrie will have a good chance to defend in these three popular meetings, Saturday evening.
In 3 year olds, he will cover the distance with Lord of Loiron, likely to erase his two recent disqualifications. “This summer, he ran well in the Yearling Cup when I discovered him. He’s a class colt. Recently, he has not given satisfaction on the right and will be much more in his business at the Crusader, given his large model. In terms of physical condition, he is getting better and better. His owner and trainer being from the North, he was prepared for that. I see him as having a very good chance.”
Kiss Me Simon will set off to the limit in the 4-year-old Final. “I own 50% of this mischievous colt, too complicated to manage in Grosbois. Patrick Desprez is above all a friend and we have worked together for a long time. He did a good job of putting Kiss Me to the point in the countryside. We deliberately gave him a break this season already thinking about his 5 year old, given his gains. His return to school wasn’t bad at all. It is easy to handle and follows all trains. He may lack a route to aim for victory; we would be very happy if he finished in the top three.”
“Janardal Club doesn’t need anyone”
The Desprez – Ouvrie tandem will have higher ambitions among the 5-year-olds. “Janardal Club made an excellent comeback on this course at the end of September, only losing at the end in a good field. He is very well committed to this objective. He’s a train horse, who doesn’t need anyone. He has improved over time, especially at the start. If he doesn’t do anything stupid, he can perfectly win in such an event.”
Franck Ouvrie, who changed agent in the spring (Djamal Boutaleb succeeding Alexandre Prod’homme), won 75 races (and in passing crossed the 1,500 career mark) this season, but has not crossed the post again in head in the temple of trotting since May 28. “There is better; there are worse (laughs)! The main thing is to be consistent. Concerning Vincennes, there is strong competition. It’s not easy to compete with sixth or seventh chances. I favor Premium meetings at my favorite racecourses, like Chartres this Monday, where I have a lot of fun driving and winning.”
For this winter meeting, the driver with three Group I victories (Black d’Avril – Star Prize 2014, Earl Simon – Kymi Grand Prix 2022, Cocco Bfc – Bold Eagle Prize 2023) also has hopes for its resident, the giant The neck. “After a break, he made a good reappearance in Reims. He will be much more successful on the big track at Mauquenchy, where I will unshoe him on November 13. The horse worked Tuesday in Vincennes. He is good and will alternate between the two specialties. You will see him trotting at Vincennes, where he won at the start of the year, thanks to good entries. This is the spearhead of my stable.”
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