The Prix de Cornulier, with a total prize purse of €700,000, is the world’s richest under-saddle race. For the past five years, it has been won by mares, and in this century, mares have won 11 times. When the Prix de Cornulier is raced Sunday afternoon (Jan. 18) at Vincennes, with a field of 18 horses, 11 of them are mares!
The ladies have dominated the Prix de Cornulier in recent years, but in the 2026 edition, their dominance may come to an end.
Although the stallions are in the minority, it is among them that this year’s favorites are found.
In the ranking of chances made by the French racing newspaper Paris-Turf for the race, the first mare appears as number five.
That is Ina du Rib with J-L C. Dersoir, who finished second in last year’s race.
The favorite is Jeroboam d’Erable with David Bonne, followed by It’s A Dollarmaker with Eric Raffin, Iguski Sautonne with Alexandre Abrivard, and Je M’Envole with Matthieu Mottier.
It is also worth noting that no sire has more than one offspring starting in the Prix de Cornulier this year!
The starting list for the race, which will be run at 9:15 a.m. (ET) and covers a distance of 2,700 meters with a standing start, can be followed live at www.letrot.com
The field is as follows:
- Kid Bellay (Goetmals Wood) – Romain MartyJean-Michel Baudouin
- Islamorada (Royal Dream) – Camille Levesque – Pierre Levesque
- Hannah (Vulcain de Vandel) – Florian Desmigneux – Julien Raffestin
- Heuristique (Very Nice Marceaux) – Jean-Yann Ricart – Jean-Philippe Raffegeau
- Je M’Envole (Joyau d’Amour) – Mathieu Mottier
- Harmonista (Vulcain de Vandel) – Mehdi Lelievre – Franck Nivard
- Keengame (Express Jet) – Anthony Barrier – Jean-Philippe Monclin
- Halfa (Offshore Dream) – Alan Gendrot – Stéphane Levoy
- Kapaula de l’Epine (Discours Joyeux) – Adrien Lamy – Jérémy Gaston van Eeckhaute
- Jeroboam d’Erable (Prodigious) – Damien Bonne – Clément Thomain
- Ibiki de Houelle (Love You) – Alexis Collette – Kevin Leblanc
- Kyt Kat (Booster Winner) – Clément Frecelle – Thomas Levesque
- Iguski Sautonne (Village Mystic) – Alexandre Abrivard – Matthieu Abrivard
- It’s A Dollarmaker (Saxo de Vandel) – Eric Raffin – Sébastien Guarato
- Jean Balthazar (Alto de Viette) – Guillaume Martin – Pascal Castel
- Ina du Rib (Uhlan du Val) – Jean-Luc Claude Dersoir – Joël Hallais
- Hirondelle du Rib (Rolling d’Heripre) – Noé Perron – Joël Hallais
- Ideale du Chene (Bird Parker) – Paul-Philippe Ploquin – Julien Le Mer