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News In Brief of French Trotting - 28th December 2022.
This week's News In Brief includes the Prix Tenor de Baune (G1) alongside further major developments in the last week from Vincennes.
Trotting
Swedish horse Calgary Games was disqualified in the Prix Tenor de Baune (G1) on Saturday where hoof issues were confirmed by the horses' regular vet. To gain a start in the Prix d'Amarique he will need to race in the Prix Belgique (G2) [January 15] and finish in the top three. Prior to last Saturday's race, Calgary Games had started ten times and was undefeated.
Last Friday at Vincennes Matilde Herleiksplass recorded her fiftieth victory and thereby has now left the apprentice ranks. She won riding Ergue Gaberic for trainer Karl Champenois, of whom she was aligned with early and now works for Jean-Michel Bazire. From Norway, she has also recorded twelve winners across Scandinavian countries, primarily Sweden.
By winning the Prix Tenor de Baune (G1) at Vincennes on Saturday, Horsy Dream secured a guaranteed place in the Prix d'Amerique (G1) to be run in four weeks' time. This gives leading driver Eric Raffin his ticket to the big event on a horse that is both progressive and a genuine chance in the classic race.
Horsy Dream provided Scipion du Goutier with his third G1 winner. The previous two winners were Bahia Quesnot (Prix de Cornulier) and Erminig d'Oliverie (Critérium des 3 Ans). This stallion has two mounted champions in the bloodlines with his dam's sire Prince Gédé a winner of the Prix de Normandie, Prix de Cornulier, and the Prix de Paris, proving versatility. Scipion du Goutier won five G1 races – Prix des Elites, Prix de Vincennes, Prix des Centaures (twice) and the Prix du Président de la République.
Winning the Prix Jules Lemonnier (G2) last Saturday and recording a time of 1'09''9 Granvillaise Bleue became the fastest mounted trotter in history at Vincennes beating Etonnant and Bilibili's previous record of 1'10''. She has now been elevated to favouritism for the Prix de Cornulier (G1) to be run in three weeks, 22 January.
Idéal du Pommeau, winner of the U.E.T. Grand Prix (G1) in October, was a surprise non-runner in the Critérium Continental when final acceptances were taken. It was later revealed the horse had suffered a crack in a front leg and will need to be rested for two months.