In just his second start in an under-saddle race, the 8-year-old stallion Iguski Sautonne delivered an impressive performance as Alexandre Abrivard rode him to victory in the Prix de Cornulier at Vincennes Sunday afternoon (Jan. 18).
Trainer and owner Matthieu Abrivard could celebrate his greatest triumph to date when his horse – with cousin Alexandre Abrivard as jockey – defeated the world’s best under-saddle horses.
Iguski Sautonne had only one previous start in an under-saddle race, where he qualified for the Prix de Cornulier with a third-place finish in December.
The race developed dramatically as the favorite, Jeroboam d’Erable with Damien Bonne, had to settle for third being overtaken in the final meters.
Iguski Sautonne and Ina du Rib passed by and secured first and second place, both with a time of 1:55.2 (mile rate).
This year’s winner is sired by Village Mystic (sired by Love You) and out of a Juliano Star mare.
With this victory, Iguski Sautonne is no longer eligible for the Prix de Luxembourg next Saturday, but can now be entered for the Prix d’Amerique before the deadline Monday morning.
After Sunday’s win, Iguski Sautonne is expected to be approved for breeding with up to 100 mares in France, up from the previous 60. He has stood for a modest stud fee of 200 euros plus 2,300 euros.
This was Iguski Sautonne’s second victory in a Group 1 race. In 2025, he won the Prix de l’Atlantique at Enghien with Matthieu Abrivard driving.
With this triumph, the dominance of mares in the Prix de Cornulier the past five years was broken, and among the first five over the finish line, Ina du Rib was the only mare.