Nob Hill gallops, Nuevo Cash capitalizes at Vincennes
by Thomas Hedlund
Heavy favorite and previously-unbeaten Nob Hill made an early exit after breaking stride in the first turn of Saturday’s (Jan. 3) $125,000 Prix Maurice de Gheest for 3-year-old colts at Vincennes, leaving Nuevo Cash to cruise home an unchallenged winner for Théo Duvaldestin.
Down the stretch, Duvaldestin was able to take a hold behind Nuevo Cash (Ready Cash–Enamorada), as the pacesetter Nelson Emge had no answer over the final 150 meters.
The winning mile rate was a stakes-record-tying 1:57.2 for the 2,175-meter distance.
Nelson Emge (Hohneck) was game in defeat, finishing second after carving out demanding fractions. He covered the opening 800 meters in :54 and reached the three-quarter-mile marker in 1:24.1.
On the far backstretch — about 900 meters from home — Nuage de Beaucamps vacated the third spot, giving Nuevo Cash cover in his wake. When Nuage de Beaucamps tired and dropped to the rail entering the final turn, Nuevo Cash was able to slide down into the pocket. Duvaldestin tipped his colt off the cones with 250 meters remaining, and Nuevo Cash exploded past the leader with ease.
The victory marked the second win from seven starts for Nuevo Cash. He began his career with a win in the $14,000 Prix de Ménil-Erreux on the grass at Alençon and later recorded runner-up finishes in both the $49,000 Prix des Dahlias and the semi-classic $125,000 Prix Emmanuel Margouty, the latter behind Nob Hill.
JUSHUA TREE GETS THE JOB DONE IN PRIX DE BOURGOGNE
Favorite Jushua Tree and Jean-Michel Bazire landed a victory in Sunday’s (Dec. 28) $125,000 Prix de Bourgogne at Vincennes, but it was far from a statement performance and didn’t reveal much about the horse’s absolute form.
Bazire sat patiently throughout in second-over with Jushua Tree (Bold Eagle—Ma Sissi James) and didn’t collar the leader Hokkaido Jiel until inside the final 100 meters, eventually holding Go On Boy at bay by about a length.
The winning mile rate was 1:54.4 for the 2,100 meters.
“Good start, good on the flat, good in the climb, and a good finish,” said Bazire after the race. “I don’t know if he’s fully at 100 per cent yet because I didn’t really ask him for everything. He did his job today and showed a bit of muscle when it mattered. I’m satisfied.”
Trained by Nicolas Bazire, Jushua Tree had already secured his spot in the 2026 Prix d’Amérique thanks to his runner-up finish in the Prix de Bretagne. Earlier this winter, the 6-year-old stallion also captured the $100,000 Prix des Cévennes. Last winter, Jushua Tree opened the meeting with victories in the semi-classics, the Prix Marcel Laurent and Prix Doynel de Saint-Quentin, before an injury cut his campaign short. His résumé also includes wins in the $165,000 Prix d’Europe, Group 1 triumphs in the $330,000 Prix Bold Eagle and $250,000 Critérium Continental, as well as the semi-classic Prix Jockey.
One of the most interesting performances in the race came from Go On Boy, who tracked Jushua Tree the entire way and finished strongly in second.
Third went to Inmarosa (Amiral Sacha) after finding room late along the inside from the pocket. Hokkaido Jiel (Brillantissime) finished fourth after taking over the lead with 1,100 meters to go and holding on respectably.
QUALIFIED FOR THE 2026 PRIX D’AMÉRIQUE
From Prix de Bretagne:
Josh Power, Jushua Tree, Borups Victory, J’Aime le Foot
From Prix du Bourbonnais:
Inmarosa, Keep Going, Izoard Vedaquais, Harmony du Rabutin
From Prix Tenor de Baune:
Epic Kronos
From Critérium Continental:
Liza Josselyn
From Prix de Bourgogne:
Jushua Tree, Go On Boy, Inmarosa, Hokkaido Jiel
