Time for the second act of the Paris Grand Prix circus
by Thomas Hedlund
The Prix d’Amérique delivered a major upset through Hokkaido Jiel, and on Sunday (Feb. 7) he will be the hunted horse when the $440,000 Prix de France is contested over 2,100 meters with autostart.
This year’s edition shapes up as a fascinating one. The entry list is packed with top-class names, although the final draw had not yet been confirmed at the time this was written. The horse attracting the most attention is Swedish star Francesco Zet, who finished eighth in the Prix d’Amérique two weeks ago. His finishing kick, after enduring positional trouble throughout the race, was nothing short of magnificent. With the shorter 2,100-meter distance now on the menu, there is every reason to believe he can seriously challenge the French elite.
Prix d’Amérique winner Hokkaido Jiel will once again face several rivals from Paris’ biggest race. Runner-up Josh Power, third-placed Epic Kronos, and fifth finisher Just Love You are among those chasing victory in the second of the three Paris Grand Prix races this winter. Epic Kronos will be driven by someone new this time, as Paul-Philippe Ploquin, who delivered an excellent drive in the Prix d’Amérique, suffered a training accident at Grosbois and fractured his collarbone, forcing him out of action for the time being.
Winning both the Prix d’Amérique and the Prix de France in the same year is a rare achievement. Idao de Tillard managed the double in 2024, Bold Eagle did it back-to-back in 2016 and 2017, Ready Cash succeeded in 2011, and Meaulnes du Corta in 2009. Prior to that, one has to go back to 1999 when Moni Maker captured both races.
Only two horses in history have won the Prix de France three consecutive times: Jamin (1958–1960) and the legendary Ourasi (1986–1988). Another standout is Eleazar, who won in 1977 and 1978 before claiming a third victory at the age of 10 in 1980.
Ten-year-olds have also triumphed in more recent history. Meaulnes du Corta was 10 when he secured his second straight Prix de France win in 2010, and Tony M. achieved the same feat in 1973. No horse younger than 5 has ever won the race; Davidson du Pont is the most recent 5-year-old winner, having prevailed in 2020.
Face Time Bourbon, winner of the Prix d’Amérique in both 2020 and 2021, finished second in the Prix de France on both occasions.
This year’s Prix d’Amérique-winning driver Franck Nivard is also the most successful driver in Prix de France history. He shares the all-time lead with Jean-René Gougeon, both having recorded six victories. Gougeon’s tally came largely behind Ourasi, but also includes wins with Hadol du Vivier, Bellino II, and Une de Mai.
Nivard’s Prix de France victories have come with Kool du Caux, Ready Cash (twice), Bold Eagle (twice), and Ampia Mede SM.
Defending champion Go On Boy lines up again on Sunday, and there is little doubt that Romain Derieux’s charge prefers the shorter distance compared to the marathon test of the Prix d’Amérique — despite connections suggesting otherwise ahead of the race two weeks ago.
$440,000 PRIX DE FRANCE 2026
Preliminary entry list
Horse — Driver — Trainer
Go On Boy — Romain Derieux
Francesco Zet — Benjamin Rochard — Daniel Redén
Hokkaido Jiel — Franck Nivard — Jean-Luc Dersoir
Josh Power — David Thomain — Sébastien Ernault
Inmarosa — Léo Abrivard — Laurent-Claude Abrivard
Iguski Sautonne — Matthieu Abrivard
Lovino Bello — TBA — Thierry Duvaldestin
Epic Kronos — Alexandre Abrivard — Daniel Redén
Executiv Ek — Alessandro Gocciadoro
Keep Going — Mathieu Mottier
East Asia — TBA — Alessandro Gocciadoro
Iroise de la Noe — Thomas Levesque
Icebreaker — Gabriele Gelormini — Mattias Djuse
Rikita J.P. — TBA — Jocelyn Robert
Idole d’Ourville — TBA — Emmanuel Varin
KAPAULA DE L’EPINE CAPITALIZES IN PRIX DE L’ILE-DE-FRANCE
A blistering early pace took its toll late in the stretch and opened the door for Kapaula de l’Epine and Adrien Lamy in the Group I $220,000 Prix de l’Ile-de-France, contested at Vincennes on Sunday (Feb. 1).
Benjamin Rochard sent the favorite It’s A Dollarmaker straight to the lead, carving out punishing fractions, while Lamy and Kapaula de l’Epine (Discours Joyeux—Paula Jim) secured the perfect pocket trip.
The opening half-mile was clocked in :53.2, 1,200 meters in 1:21.1, and the mile marker was reached in a staggering 1:50.3, with 500 meters still to go.
Turning for home, It’s A Dollarmaker appeared home free, but midway down the stretch he drifted outward and lost momentum. Kapaula de l’Epine did not. Hugging the rail, she surged past with ease to score in 1:52.3 over 2,175 meters.
It’s A Dollarmaker finished second, while Je m’Envole completed the podium in third.
