Field is set for 700,000€ Prix de Cornulier

Heavy rains and a deep racecourse were the backdrop of today’s (Jan. 17) Prix de Pornichet (purse 75,000€, monte, 2850 meters, eight starters ages 8-10 years old) at Paris-Vincennes. Also of note, the field is set for the 700,000€ Groupe I Prix de Cornulier monte race on Sunday.

The 9/10 odds favorite Gala d’Urfist (8g Un Charme Gou-Royale d’Urfist) was nevertheless not denied as he scored in 1.18.0kr by an unmeasurable margin. Adrien Lamy was the winning jockey for trainer Franck Leblanc and Ecurie d’Ycy as their winner recorded his 15^th career victory in 57 starts for earnings of 319,270€.

Far back second was 13/1 Espoir du Ravary (10g Pad d’Urzy) for jockey Alan Gendrot and trainer/owner Igor Pierre Blanchon. Third was 2.7/1 odds Good Girl Marceaux (8f Jag de Bellouet-Iane Fortuna-And Arifant)) and jockey Damien Bonne for trainer Pierre Vercruysse.

Monte trotting really heats up with Sunday’s Prix de Cornulier with the field set at 18 starters. The primarily sulky trotters originally engaged have dropped out. This leaves the probable leaders being Gold Voice, Esperanza Idole, the Joel Hallais trainees Ina du Rib and Hironselle du Rib plus the top money winners Ideale du Chene, Hanna des Molles, Granvillaise Bleue and two-time Cornulier winner Flamme du Goutier.

Flamme has been racing in sulky races in her last five appearances, The recent monte winners in the field are Gold Voice, Esperanza Idole, Halfa, Ideale du Chene and Ina du Rib.

The great race, started in 1931, has been won by truly great horses, with Bilibili the fastest winner with a 1.11.2kr score in 2019. Joel Hallais has saddled eight Cornulier winners. The winners since 2009 are shown below, Thierry Duvaldestin having trained the last two winners with Flamme du Goutier, the most monied starter this year.

LeTrot, Paris-Vincennes, Facebook/Cornulier files/photos-harness trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink