Behind a persistent fog, the atmosphere was studious at William Bigeon’s training center on Thursday morning in Bonchamp-lès-Laval. But two days before presenting three starters at group I level, the pressure did not seem (yet) to have won over the Mayenne coach. “I am quite calm, he confirms. They all worked well. I didn’t have any problems. So far everything is smooth…” If he will not be part of the party on Sunday in America, William Bigeon will have claims in the first two summits of the weekend. Starting with the Bold Eagle Prize where it will be doubly represented. On the front of the stage since the age of 2, Kana de Beylev is always at the top at the start of his 5-year-old year, the mark of very good horses. “She won the great races at the start of her career reserved for females, then won a group I (Ndlr, Prix Ready Cash) last winter, and it is still present. She’s a champion.” With nearly 800,000 euros in winnings under her belt, the daughter ofExpress Jet even had a guaranteed place at the start of the “beautiful” Sunday (thanks to the 20% increase) but the idea was quickly brushed aside: “We thought about it a little bit, but it would have been more for fun than competition. Looking at the set, it looked complicated.” And the sporting side therefore took precedence. Ambitious, the Mayenne coach approaches this group I with confidence: “We gave him freshness following his good performance in the Critérium Continental (5eDecember 22) and I find it really very good. She has a good eye. She is alert and toned. There is adversity, but we play to win. If she proves her worth, her place is in the top three.” Another asset of the stable, King Operaalso adorned with the jacket of Joël Séché (first in the owners’ ranking this winter with 502,600 euros but closely followed by the Vautors team) will be at the start of the Prix Bold Eagle. After having lost track a little in recent months, the son of Ready Cashwho benefited from a break in the fall, made a promising comeback in the Prix de Croix (Gr. II). “We put everything back together with himsupports William Bigeon who will also be his driver. We ran without pressure last time for his return, but I was happy with his performance (7e). Saturday, he will be lightened from the hindquarters, it will be a little extra. We understood that we should not do anything in the first part of the course. On the other hand, it has a fairly strong last kilometer and should lengthen well to finish. With a good run, he can finish at the finish.”
“A good breeding ground”
An hour later, Lemon Tree will meet the best of its promotion for the Prix Ourasi (Gr. I). Fourth in the Critérium des Jeunes, Benjamin Rochard’s partner has just returned to success in the Prix Château-Chinon (Gr. III), posting a good kilometer reduction of 1’12”8 on the classic 2,700 meter course. “There wasn’t much of a gap at the finish, but it was very good, specifies his trainer. I think this race will toughen him up. It’s the perfect workout. It doesn’t need a lot of weight. We note that the products of Face Time Bourbon improve when they are unshod. This will be a plus. It’s a great generation, but he has the level.” Between these two groups I, William Bigeon will still have a little work to do. Double title holder of the Prix Roquépine (with Louisiana de Bomo in 2024 and Kana de Beylev in 2023), this year he is attempting the pass of three with Misty Green but is rather measured: “She’s not the most pleasant to train. It was better in her behavior last but she finished a little painfully (Editor’s note, 3e of the Gelinotte Prize). Afterwards, it wasn’t easy with his fitting (combi pad) on a track that was bad. Since then, she has worked a little harder because she needs a little enthusiasm to give her full potential. Magic America et Melba du Gers seem above, but there is room behind.” If we add Luminous Starat the start of the Prix de Meadowlands on Sunday, all his representatives for the weekend at Vincennes were purchased from the Hunter Valley stable. “It’s a good breeding ground, sourit William Bigeon. Joël (Séché) manages this part. I don’t care about it. He met Mathieu Millet at the races a few years ago. We started with the generation of “J”. There was Juno (placed at group II level), Jazzie Belle (also placed in group II) and Jfield bomb (84,050 euros). The collaboration got off to a good start. Except Not at allwho had already won at Vincennes and Misty Greenthey are yearlings when they arrive. We do the job from A to Z. These are horses with great origins and who are quite trotting. It’s nice.”
A good winter meeting
10 victories, more than 21% success rate, 39% on the podium and 411,780 euros in winnings. The numbers speak for themselves. William Bigeon, who manages a workforce oscillating between 30 and 40 horses, is carrying out a well-made 2024/2025 winter meeting with driving elements like Lady Dada (3 windows) and Karma Power (2 victories).“I am happy, confirms the Mayenne coach. The horses are valuable, that’s the main thing. But I’m not focusing on the meeting. I’m mainly trying to make it through the year. If there are two or three Parisian victories per month, that suits me. The goal is to be consistent.”
