She never stops winning. Ideal Oak continues its harvest of success on the path leading to Cornulier. Victorious in the Prix Paul Buquet (Gr. II) for her return to riding (November 28), the daughter of Bird Parker doubles the stakes during the Prix Jules Lemonnier (2,175 m – GP). Undoubtedly, she is the most convincing mare since the start of the mounted trotting meeting. One month before the main event, the resident of Julien Le Mer takes on the status of favorite. Even more so with the absence of the newly retired, Hanna des Mollesdeclared non-starter 24 hours before this group II, and the near future, to say the least uncertain, of Maple Jeroboam. For his part, his mentor prefers to remain pragmatic about the upcoming situation. “Even though there may be two fewer horses, there will always be eighteen starters no matter what. They will be the best horses of the moment. Those absent will give way to elements who will have a chance. I do not underestimate the opposition, far from it. We will try to prepare the mare at the best for the big day, because she will inevitably be expected. It remains a Cornulier and it is far from being done.” One thing is certain, it is that it is in the right tempo. Her form is sure, but can she gain a little something more in terms of condition? “I think I still have a little marginhe replies. I can assure you that in training, I have not yet sharpened it to the maximum, even if it is obviously working.” His rivals have been warned. The beauty of the Guedj stable will appear in her wedding dress on January 19.
In the footsteps of the champions?
Ideal Oak will try to do as well as Beautiful France (2016), Roxane Griff (2014), I de Bellouet (2004 and 2003) and First the Retz (2000), who won this Jules Lemonnier Prize before receiving recognition a few weeks later in the Cornulier.
In terms of the appearance of the race, the favorite of the race takes her responsibilities by propelling herself with authority to the head of the mini peloton (only seven starters left after the withdrawal of Deus Zack), before delaying when leaving the plain. “It was necessary to return to combat when Blue Granvillaise carried out his attack by mountinghe analyzes. She ran a real race, even if the clock (1’11”) is not great for these horses, but the track was not conducive to speed. I was a little scared at the end. She is a mare who is used to finishing on top of others and when she goes in front, she relaxes a little. The important thing is that she crosses the post in the lead and that's what she did.” From now on, the three-time winner of groups I will be seen again in the “Calvados, but she won't do it thoroughly, because you have to keep a little freshness in view of the beauty where she will have a real chance. She will evolve without blinders and tackled”.
The Untouchable Revelation
Only male at the start, Untouchable makes a thunderous debut for his debut in the specialty. The son of Prodigious ends nearIdeal Oakbeing the fastest in the last five hundred meters (1'08''8). “In the heat, it was catastrophic, declares Antoine Marion. It fell light. All alone, he was cold, not really in the mood. We then put weight back on him. Matthew (Mottier) told me that once he rounded the turn at the bottom of the descent he was perfect and would have won if he had waited another fifty meters. You know, he's a good horse. At 3 years old, he was beaten by Italian Vero et Idao de Tillard.” This masterstroke for a first attempt could open the door to great events in the specialty. Blue Granvillaise concedes the first entry not far from the goal. “Elle court correctconfides Benjamin Rochard. I came out with two people when perhaps it was not necessary to do so.” And Gold Voice finishes fourth, the “Rib” Ina et Swallow follow respectively in the ranking. The first mentioned, “had not raced under the saddle since the Centaurs and I think she behaves well for her returnanalysis of Joël Hallais. Swallow had a good inside course, but the race was decided on one end and she is not a speed mare. However, she runs well too. Both will go to Calvados.”
