The 2024-2025 Vincennes Winter Meeting, a key period for French trotting, kicked off spectacularly with Gaspar d’Angis clinching victory in the Prix des Cévennes, driven by Eric Raffin. This Group III event, held on October 31st, positioned the trotter as a leading contender for the upcoming competitions, particularly in the run-up to the Prix d’Amérique qualifiers.
A Strategic Start to the Winter Meeting
Running from November through February, the Vincennes Winter Meeting draws the world’s best trotters across 72 Quinté+ race meetings and showcases 17 Group I events. Among the highlights are the Amerique Races, a series of qualifying races culminating in the prestigious Prix d’Amérique. The “4B” races—Prix de Bretagne, Prix du Bourbonnais, Prix de Bourgogne, and Prix de Belgique—serve as key qualifiers alongside the Prix Ténor de Baune and Critérium Continental. The grand finale on January 26th will be followed by major revenges: the Prix de France Speed Race and Prix de Paris Marathon Race. The Cornulier Races, centered on mounted trotting, climax on January 19th after a series of qualifiers.
Prix des Cévennes: Prelude to Great Ambitions
From the outset of this season, Gaspar d’Angis confirmed his status as one of last year’s top trotters, maintaining strong form. While anticipation centered on a showdown between Hokkaido Jiel and Ganay de Banville in this Group III opener, it was Jean-Michel Baudouin’s charge who set the pace early on, guided expertly by Eric Raffin. Raffin’s impressive form continues, with this victory marking his 46th win in October alone. Over the 1.77-mile (approximately 2,850-meter) race, Gaspar d’Angis maintained a powerful tempo, ultimately claiming a decisive victory. His impressive average speed of 30.91 mph (nearly 50 km/h) kept rivals like Oracle Tile and Ganay de Banville at bay, highlighting his dominance.
Former Duvaldestin-trained Oracle Tile delivered a strong late surge, finishing second, approximately 19.7 feet (6 meters) behind the winner. Ganay de Banville, despite a strong effort to challenge alongside the leader mid-race, settled for third place. Inmarosa impressed by finishing fourth, clocking a time of 3:27.4 following an early break in stride. Her promising finish and last 0.31-mile (500-meter) burst at 34.53 mph (1:09.01 km/h) showcase her potential for the rest of the meeting.
Hokkaido Jiel, who benefited from a favorable trip behind Ganay de Banville, was unable to accelerate in the final stretch, ending fifth. With only one preparatory race under his belt, he still has room to regain peak form.
The Meeting’s Elite Races: An Unmissable Showcase
Beyond Prix d’Amérique qualifications, the Vincennes Winter Meeting offers numerous high-stakes events, including the Grand Prix de Bourgogne and Critérium Continental—crucial for assessing the competition. Attelé and monté trotting races provide a diverse array of challenges that test the technical skill, endurance, and strategic acumen of each competitor. For Gaspar d’Angis and his rivals, every upcoming race will be critical in refining strategies for their ultimate winter goal: the Prix d’Amérique.