Maitre Jacques, Kobayashi win Gr I Paris Tests

Two Gr I classics highlighted the Paris-Vincennes program this day.  The Prix de Selection/Face Time Bourbon (Gr I, purse 240,000€, 2175 meters distance handicap, nine starters, males ages 4,5,6) saw 2.1/1 odds Maitre Jacques (4m Rolling d’Heripre-Adelie) hold gamely on the front to engineer a1.12.0kr timed victory.

Alexandre Abrivard teamed the Jacques Cottel bred and owned colt that L. Cl. Abrivard trains.

This was the seventh career win for Maitre Jacques in 17 starts for  602,870€ earned. The 5/1 odds L’As Desbois  (5m Booster Winner-Doria Desbois) overcame a 25 meter handicap to earn second with Matthieu Abrivard up for trainer William Bigeon  and owner Joel Seche.

Maestro Vrie (4m Village Mystic-Sage de Vrie) at 10/1 was second with Mathieu Mottier up trainer/breeder Louis Baudron and owner Alain Jathiere.

Magic Man (4m Prodigious-Garden Party) at10/1 odds finished fourth driven by Eric Raffin for owner/trainer Etienne Dubois. Midway Lady was fifth at15/1 followed by Lovino Bello at 6.1/1 (25 meter handicapped) and  2.4/1 Liza Josselyn was seventh (25 meter handicapped).

Replay  https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-02-28/7500/8

In the co-featured Prix des Centaures(monte Gr I, 240,000€ purse, 2175 meters distance handicap,11 starters ages 4,5,6) the 6.1/1 odds Kobayashi (6m Face Time Bourbon-Come On Jet-Goetmals Wood-Jenny Jet-Dahir de Prelong) scored easily after a prolonged surge timed in a fast 1.10.1kr.

Mathieu Mottier was the winning jockey and he also trains the winner for breeder/owner Ecurie Hunter Valley. He overcame a 25 meter handicap as did second finishing 7.5/1odds  Lisbonne  Dry (5f Singalo-Delicatessen) with Paul Philippe Ploquin aboard for Ecurie Dry and trainer Patrick Ploquin.

Another 25 meter penalized performer, Lionheart (5m Falcao de Laurma-Decadence), earned third as the 9/10 odds favorite with Eric Raffin in the irons for trainer Nicolas Bazire and Ecurie de Loradour. Miss des Basaces (4f Memphis du Rib-Caldeira Turgot) finished  fourth for jockey Alan Gendrot, trainer R.C. Larue and Ecurie de Windcut.

Replay https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-02-28/7500/9

Paris-Vincennes, Trotteur Francais files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink