Flamme du Goutier (8f Ready Cash-Utopie du Goutier), off at 2.4/1 odds, rallied late for a length victory in the 700,000€ purse Prix de Cornulier (Gr. I International, 4–11-year-olds, monte, 18 starters) timed in 1.11.5kr. It is the world’s richest trotting event under saddle.
Mathieu Mottier was the winning jockey for trainer Thierry Duvaldestin and owner Ecurie Saint Martin. Flamme recorded her 17th career win now for 1,594,840€ earned. Duvaldestin trained Ready Cash for much of his career.
Second was 2/1 favorite Granvillaise Bleue (7gf Jag de Bellouet-Lady de Brevol) handled by Camille Levesque for trainer Pierre Levesque and owner Michel Gallier. Her earnings today send her career bankroll to 1,047,760€.
Third home was 4.7/1 Hanna des Molles (6f Village Mystic-Ultimate Jet) and jockey Alexandre Abrivard. The 120/1 Vaprio (9m Adrian Chip) with Nathalie Henry up and 39/1 Varenne FAS (8m Varenne) with jockey Mathilde Herleiksplass aboard completed the top five.
To watch the race replay, click here.
To watch a video of the 100-year anniversary of the Prix de Cornulier, click here.
On the undercard there were three groupe tests. The Prix Bellino II (Gr. III, purse 90,000€, 2100 meters autostart) went to 1.12.7kr timed Jean Balthazar (6m Alto de Verte) for Alexabdre Abrivard.
The Prix Michel Gougeon (Gr. III, purse 90,000€, 2700 meters for six-year-olds) saw Heraut d’Arme (6m Ready Cash) win in 1.13.5kr for trainer/driver Jean Michel Bazire and New Blue 1 LLC.
The Prix de Mirande (Gr. III, purse 90,000€, 2700 meters for European five-year-olds) saw Inexess Bleu (5g Vittel de Brevol) win in 1.13.0kr for Alexandre Abrivard.
Earlier in non-groupe action the Prix Roxane Griff (purse 65,000€, 2175 meters for monte European 6–11-year-olds) so Go For The Gold (7g Ready Cash) win in 1.11.4kr for jockey Mathieu Mottier and trainer Thierry Duvaldestin. Ecurie Union Story owns this now 16-time winner.
In the Prix La Ferte Mace purse 50,000€, 2175 meters for three-year-olds), the lightly raced Ksar (3m Follow You-Tes Amours) scored in 1.15.3kr for J. Ph. Monclin, trainer J.A. Hernandez-Navarro and owner/breeder Jean Pierre Dubois. Ksar won for the second time. His dam is by Goetmals Wood-Amour d’Aunou with Amount d’Aunou being by Speedy Somolli from the legendary producer Nesmile.
LeTrot files/photos
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink