700,000€ Prix de Cornulier won by 21-1 longshot

Esperanza Idole (10f Quido du Goutier-Fan Idole-Le Ham) rallied from the clouds (eighth in final bend) for harness racing jockey Jean Yann Ricart to win the monte Prix de Cornulier at Vincennes, France Jan. 21 (purse 700,000€, 2700 meters, Gr. I International with 18 starters ages 4-11) timed in 1.12.3kr.

Off at 21/1 odds the Noel Langlois trained and owned mare won for the 16^th time in her 87-race career. Her career earnings advanced today to 853,230€ with 315,000€ earned in the Cornulier.

She is in peak form with two wins and a second and third in the last four appearances. Esperanza’s dam Fan Idole (1193 foal by Le Ham) was one of the French greats with earnings of 2,184,369€ from 37 wins in 89 career starts and a record of 1.09.8kr for her trainer Richard William Denechere. This reporter will never forget her victory over Varenne in the Trot Mondial at Montreal.

The Prix de Cornulier began in 1931 and the race record is 1.11.2kr set by Bilibili in 2019. Flamme du Goutier won the 2022 and 2023 editions the fastest in 1.11.5kr.

Finishing second today was 69/1 Hirondelle du Rib (7f Rolling d;Heripre-Anemone du Rib) with Noe Perron the jockey for legendary monte trainer Joel Hallais and Ecurie Rib. Third was 19/1 Ideale du Chene (6f Bird Parker-Royale du Chene) with Paul Philippe Ploquin in the irons for Julien Le Mer training for breeder Yvonne Guedj.

The 3.8/1 Ina du Rib (6f Uhlan de Val-Tina du Rib) was fourth with J.L.Cl. Dersoir the jockey for Joel Hallais and Ecurie Rib. Fifth was the double Cornulier winner Flamme du Goutier (9f Ready Cash-Utopie du Goutier) at 1.9/1 odds, the favorite, with Mathieu Mottier up for trainer Thierry Duvaldestin. Geisha Speed was sixth at 36/1 and 65/1 Halfa was seventh.

Fractions were even (1.11.4kr at the 1500; 1.11.7kr with 1000 to go and 1.12.0kr at the 500). The slowing last 500 helped Esperanza close stoutly in the lane.

To watch the race replay, click here.

The Cornulier celebration also honored Alain Laurent who was the winning jockey 50 years ago with Cette Histoire and won again in 1983 with Kaprius.

LeTrot, Paris-Vincennes, Cornulier Prize

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink