by Thomas Hedlund

Trainer, driver and jockey Mathieu Mottier will probably look back at the winter meeting in Paris and allow himself to smile at the big souvenirs collected.

When the meet’s last race day was scheduled Saturday (March 1), Mottier had the two favorites in the $240,000 Prix de Selection and from a 25 meter disadvantage, Keep Going became the first choice.

But 25 meters is obviously hard to make up, especially when there are strong 4-year-old contenders starting from the first line. Mottier sat behind home bred 4-year-old London (Rockfeller Center) and when the duo overtook the lead a half mile into the 2,175 meter race, Mottier started to make it hard for the older horses starting 25 meters behind.

London, who came to the Prix de Selection without a win since June last year, had caught up skills among some of the best horses in the crop in her three starts prior to Saturday’s objective. And London, visibly challenged at the top of the stretch, held the high pace all the way towards the wire and she captured the win in a mile rate of 1:55.1 over 1.3 miles.

Replay here.

Mottier could also note that his Keep Going did a great job as fourth, but the favorite never really got a chance to make up the 4-year-olds’ advantage.

Older trotters, racing under saddle, met up in the $240,000 Prix Henri Desmontils over 2,850 meters and the race ended with a big upset in Joel Hallais-trained Hirondelle du Rib (Rolling d’Heripre). Hallais had a better shot in the Ina du Rib, but stablemate Hirondelle du Rib was too good this day as she won in a mile rate of 1:55.2. Replay here.

Jean Balthazar (Alto de Viette) entered the $240,000 Prix des Centaures monté race as the horse with the best merits and when it was time to perform, the 6-year-old had improved his position and was battling for the win, accompanied by Jeegha Pride and Kapaula de l’Epine, in the stretch. Jean Balthazar had the best power and sprinted to the win in a mile rate of 1:53.3 over 1.3 miles.

Replay here.

Five in a row became a fact when Laurent-Claude Abrivard-trained Inexess Bleu (Vittel de Brevol) controlled the $90,000 Prix du Plateau de Gravelle in front in the hands of Alexandre Abrivard. The fifth consecutive win became a nice closure for one of the winter meetings dominants. Inexess Bleu won in a mile rate of 1:58 over 1.6 miles. Replayhere.

NO ELITLOPPET FOR HORSY DREAM, BUT YES TO…

Horsy Dream will not be able to defend his title in Elitloppet in May. Pierre Belloche’s trotter has trained for some time after his injury and according to owner Thomas Francois, Horsy Dream started his breeding season in France when the injury again was found in the same hind leg.

The new plan for the horse is to get him prepared for the winter meeting in 2025-26.

Solvalla’s Elitloppet manager Anders Malmrot revealed his first invitation to the big mile race and the pink ticket went to Go On Boy, the French champion trained and driven by Romain Derieux. Bienvenue!