After the races in Hong Kong Sunday morning, racing fans could just stay tuned in front of the television and watch the races from Vincennes with the best three year-olds, in their generations most wanted race : le Critérium Des 3 ans and first the Prix Octave Douesnel with some great 4 year-old colts.

Treskool Du Caux wins the Prix Octave Douesnel for driver and trainer Tony Le Beller and owner Jacques Villetorte.

At two o’clock, the four year-olds were at post. Trésor Wic, the less experienced colt tok the lead. He was attacked succesivly by Thorens Vedaquais, and Treskool Du Caux, he never let go of the lead. Tison Madrik came very fast in the last turn but galloped. Treskool Du Caux and Tresor Wic fought for victory, Treskool Du Caux won quite in front of Tabby Point and Tabler who was very fast in the final stretch. Trésor Wic made his trainer Laurent Simon very happy, he has always considered him but that was before an enquiry was opened on Tempo, Thorens Vedaquais and Trésor Wic. This inquiry generated dramatic consequences in the group one. The three horses were disqualified for irregular trot. The juges are getting very strict these days, but that’s another question… It was actually really sad for Trésor Wic, he resisted several attacks the whole way, he was really tough! And as number one, he was the horse with the less experience and earning, it was a nice bet to enter this race against the best horses of his generation. He should be redeemed very soon. So the final order was Treskool Du Caux, Tabby Point, Tabler and Tonkin de Bellouet, all the others were disqualified. Previous winners of the race are champions like Ready Cash and Jag De Bellouet, to quote only recent editions. These young stars have a nice future, to start with the Critérium Continental for Treskool Du Caux.

Unique Quick is crowned best french three year-old.

An hour and eight minutes later… the Critérium Des 3 Ans. For a three year old it is the most prestigious race to win. For a future stallion it is a very important race. Thierry Duvaldestin was the best equipped trainer; he presented four of his horses: Union D’Urzy, Uniclove, Uaukir and Urgèle. They had some trouble deciding how much weight Uaukir should have on his feet, Franck Nivard even went to the stable and put on an extra pair of boot just a couple of minutes before the start. He had no luck with this complicated but very talented horse, winner of the Critérium Des Jeunes; Uaukir galloped several times. Meanwhile Union D’Urzy took the lead for a while. Then I taught she would stay in front all the way and win, she has been brilliant recently. But a relay race started, Uniclove took over and stayed in the lead for a while too, he has been as good as Union D’Urzy so this looked good! But 1400m left Unique Quick and Franck Leblanc took the lead. When he took the lead, he strongly disturbed Uniclove and Thierry Duvaldestin. For this disruption Franck Leblanc only got suspended for four days (and he drives quite rarely…) and the victory was worth 120 000€… He was a quite surprising winner… Un Amour D’Haufor finished well but a too late to threaten Unique Quick in front of Une Lady En Or who never gave up and concluded very fast. Upper Class and Johanna Lindqvist were very happy with their race; Upper Class shows that one can always count on her. She is Ready Cash’s full sister, her brother won this race in 2008. Uraki Des Sarts is very popular because of his nice history, he finished 5^th. Union D’Urzy, 6th was the best Duvaldestin, Urgèle was 8^th, Uaukir wasn’t placed and Uniclove was disqualified. Timoko’s record remains unbeaten, 1’12’6, yesterday they went 1’14’1. Richard Westerink’s champion might not be seen again this winter as he has Borrelia.