Maitre Jacques won the first major race for French 3-year-olds, The Criterium des Jeunes, now known as the Prix Comte Pierre de Montesson.
This is the first Group 1 race for French 3-year-olds and was held on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 16) at Vincennes over 1-11/16 miles with total prize money of 200,000 Euros.
Maitre Jacques, trained by Laurent Claude Abrivard and driven by his son Alexandre, took the lead early and won easily in 1:59.1 (mile rate) ahead of the filly Mille Etoiles with Jean Michel Bazire and Mack de Blary with Theo Duvaldestin.
For supporters of the “pure” French trotting bred, it was a great triumph for Maitre Jacques as he is sired by Rolling d’Heripre and only has American blood in the fourth generation.
Rolling d’Heripre was once the toughest competitor to Ready Cash in the French classic races, but he has not had the same success in breeding, as revealed by a stud fee of just 3,000 Euros.