“I didn’t even take off his blinders, he’s a crack!” : the trotter Idao de Tillard enjoys an incredible comeback at the Prix de France

Triomphe pour Clement Duvaldestin et son cheval Idao de Tillard au Grand Prix de France. MAXPPP – Stéphane Geufroi

Après le Grand Prix d'Amérique, le trotteur Idao de Tillard s'offre la France à Paris avec une facilité insolente. 

After his coronation in the Prix d'Amérique, the French trotter Idao de Tillard driven by Clément Duvaldestin, the big favorite, won very easily on Sunday at Vincennes, the Prix de France, second opus of the triple crown, achieving a rare doubled.

The 6-year-old horse succeeds Bold Eagle, the last champion to have achieved the Prix d'Amérique-Prix de France double (2016 and 2017).

A large majority of the horses who competed in the harness trotting world championship two weeks ago set off in this speed race for a journey of 2,100 meters with a start behind the & #39;autostart.

Dazzling acceleration in the last 500 meters

Setting off cautiously, Idao de Tillard, still far away halfway through, gradually got closer behind the Italian Ampia Mede SM before making a dazzling acceleration in the last 500 meters to take the lead. impose with great ease.

It's crazy to win a Prix de France with such casualness

"It's crazy to win a Prix de France with such casualness", said Clément Duvaldestin at the Equidia microphone back at the stables. "I came from behind. I took my time. I did what Idao likes to do, come from behind and he won easily", added the young 26-year-old driver.

"I didn'I didn't even pull his blinders off, he's a crack! I'm lucky to have come across this immense champion". Idao de Tillard's trainer, Thierry Duvaldestin, Clément's father, described his crack as “a friend, a friend, ;an enigma".

It's the best and it's not over

"It's the best and it's not over yet. We will take care of it and I hope that it will still please a lot of people".

The new star of world trotting, with a bay (brown) coat, beat the French horse Go On Boy entrusted to Romain Derieux who took 2nd place, at the cost of a finish racing once again very incisive.

At the helm of the Italian mare Ampia Mede SM, Franck Nivard who won the race last year, this time finished third without being able to counter the first two.

His driver pockets 180,000 euros

Idao de Tillard offered his entourage, notably Cyril Sevestre, his co-owner, the sum of 180,000 euros promised to the winner out of the 400,000 euros in various bonuses distributed among the first seven.

In two weeks, the best trotters on the planet will battle this time in the Prix de Paris, a marathon race during which they will take the classic course of the big track twice.

For this latest opus, they will have to show foolproof endurance over the distance of 4,150 meters.