Nothing can replace a victory in the Prix de Cornulier (Group I), World Mounted Trotting Championship. However, his “consolation”, the Prix de l’Île-de-France (Gr. I), offered spectacle and emotion yesterday on the Paris-Vincennes racecourse. At the end of the 2,175 m covered at full speed, Freeman de Houelle showed his true face, that of a “very tough horse”, according to his trainer, Franck Leblanc. Accustomed to monopolizing successes during the meeting, the latter was going through a bad patch and did not hide it: “I know what it is to win but this victory really makes me very happy, because things were not going well. at all for fifteen days. I knew that my horse was good but it had to be confirmed on the track. »
The last of Matthieu Abrivard
Two weeks after a stinging failure in the Prix de Cornulier, Éric Raffin was obviously also delighted with this performance which he wanted to dedicate to Marcel Vercruysse, Pierre’s brother, who died at the age of 55. “I was very moved when I learned that this morning, confides the Vendée driver. He was available and always helpful with me since my childhood. “And to look back on the victory of Freeman de Houelle : “I also have a thought for Philippe Daugeard. He loves cycling and has always told me that it’s no problem to be in the second layer when the wind is three quarters because we are protected. That’s what I did, and the horse was very tough. »
Once again second at this level, the big favourite, Blue Granville did not deserve and is ahead Bahia Quesnot. The latter will no longer be seen under saddle, like her jockey, Matthieu Abrivard, who announced it this week. At the age of 36, the jockey left this specialty which he made known to the general public, in particular on the occasion of the first two of the four Prix de Cornulier which he won in the saddle on the champion I’m the Bellouet.