Although Saturday’s Prix Kerjacques at Vincennes is “only” a Group II event, it may well be the strongest field assembled in Europe in several months — possibly even including the entire winter meeting with the Prix d’Amérique.
The Prix Kerjacques is open to geldings, which sets the stage for a showdown between the top French horses such as two-time Prix d’Amérique winner Idao de Tillard, this year’s Prix d’Amérique winner Hokkaido Jiel, and the Prix de France–winning mare Iroise de la Noe, challenged by top geldings like Inexess Bleu — winner last year of the UET Elite Circuit Final and the Belgian Group 1 Prix de Wallonie — and Ino du Lupin, most recently victorious in the Group III Prix du Bois de Vincennes.
In addition, the field includes horses such as Josh Power, runner up in this year’s Prix d’Amérique; Hooker Berry, another Prix d’Amérique winner; and the consistently successful Italian Cobra Killer Gar.
The race is contested over 2,700 meters with a standing start — the same distance and start format as the Prix d’Amérique — and carries a total purse of €120,000.
The race will be run at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time and can be watched live at www.letrot.com.
Back in Action in Europe
From Europe, it is also worth noting that the now 5-year-old mare Allegiant (sired by Tactical Landing) returned to racing for the first time since last July and did so in impressive fashion at Färjestad, where she won with Örjan Kihlström in a mile rate of 1:55.1.
This was only Allegiant’s fourth start since being sold to Sweden last year. In 2024, she raced three times and won, among other victories, the 4 -ear-Old-Mare Elite race at Solvalla in a mile rate of 1:51.3 on Elitlopp Day. She is trained by Daniel Redén.