Copyright © 2002/2005 - all right reserved
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Copyright © 2002/2005 - all right reserved |
Do you know the joke: “are you the last of the Mohicans ?”
Answer: “No, I am the last but one, the last one died yesterday
!”. In the same way, GENERAL DU POMMEAU could well have been the
last star of French trotting, capable of winning at the highest
level from 2 to 10 years old. There seem to be just two truths
which hold for this perpetually changing sport: the rule that
the youngest is always the best, and the exception which proves
this rule: JAG DE BELLOUET during this winter 2004-2005 at
Vincennes.
The younger of the two horses which are really coming out of the
lot of the tenors of French trotting is KESACO PHEDO. But this
horse bred by Pierre Touvais and especially famous for having
been auctioned for 3 millions euros, the highest ever, proved
incapable of a good performance during the three first
preparatory events for the 2005 Prix d’Amerique. He even
finished the Prix de Bourgogne, on the 2nd of January, in very
bad style.
After the late departure of KIWI for the stud and the injuries
of KESACO PHEDO you might be tempted to look among the following
generations if it hadn’t been for JAG DE BELLOUET, at eight
years old, having a joyride at the head of all these preparatory
events and with an eleventh consecutive victory before facing
his dilemma: run directly in the Prix d’Amerique or destroy a
few more in the queen of mounted trot races the Prix de
Cornulier. Who could stop him ? He is a horse with brand new
morale, who easily leaves behind his younger opponents who are
already worn out by many difficult combats at the summit of the
hierarchy of international trotting (there still exist on our
racetracks survivors from the VARENNE era).
...and the whole of France sees itself in this attractive clan of winners, professionals loved and respected for their simplicity. From Jean-Claude Monthéan the breeder, to Christophe Gallier the driver, including Michel Gallier the owner who rightly insisted just after the finish of the Prix du Bourbonnais, in front of the Equidia cameras, on the importance “of not lifting your head up, and never run when suffering” if you want to guarantee a long career to your horse, all these attractive people of French trotting have got into the hearts of turf lovers in France, and even elsewhere, among all European racing fans. JAG DE BELLOUET also runs with his heart, his whole heart, always fighting. He challenges the best in the two specialities: mounted and harnessed. This, in fact, is what excites the public the most.
Turf fans, including in this group simple spectators, want stars who last, but who especially are at their best. This 2004-2005 season at Vincennes will remain however in the minds of those who observe also what happens behind the scenes, as a disappointing winter and perhaps a dangerous turning point that the event of ABANO AS had predicted. In fact, the track is strewn with “great champions” who are only a shadow of their real selves. One day they win in 1’10” and another day they are not placed even in 1’14”. They run shoed or unshoed, with or without blinkers, with fix bar or the latest gadget in fashion, but those who use or abuse these do not last long. The surprise effect only works once or twice on tired bodies and desabused minds. During all this, JAG DE BELLOUET does not trot, he flies away !!