Granvillaise Bleue Aims for Prix Jules Lemonnier Success
Granvillaise Bleue Aims for Third Prix Jules Lemonnier Title
Vincennes, France – Veteran trotter Granvillaise Bleue is set to compete in the Prix Jules lemonnier for the third time in her career this Saturday, marking another step in her journey towards the prestigious Prix de Cornulier.
Trainer Pierre Levesque, speaking to reporters Wednesday, expressed confidence in his mareS abilities. “She’s doing much better than she was at this time last year,” Levesque said. “She’s trained well and has always performed well on the 2,175-meter course. I think she has a good chance.”
Granvillaise Bleue’s last outing, the Prix Paul Buquet, was marred by an unfortunate incident. “One of her blinkers came down shortly after the start,” Levesque explained.”She then pulled for a thousand meters and had to go around the other horses. We had everything go wrong.”
Despite facing recurring respiratory issues, Granvillaise Bleue will be partnered with jockey Benjamin Rochard for the second time.
“The initial connection didn’t go as planned last time, even though she finished her race well,” Rochard noted. “The top three horses were able to progress along the rail,while Granvillaise Bleue had to go wide in the final turn. She’s given a lot sence her debut, and we know we can’t fully resolve her lung problems, but she remains competitive and has a good chance on Saturday.”
Looking ahead, Levesque outlined Granvillaise Bleue’s potential schedule. “If all goes well, after the Prix de Cornulier, she’ll compete in the two Group I races offered before retiring.”
Levesque, who has scaled back his stable in recent years, has seen several of his horses perform well this winter. Filwell, a standout performer, won both the Prix de l’Ile d’Oléron and the Prix Auguste François. Jason, another promising trotter, recently made a strong comeback in the Prix Oscar Collard, finishing sixth.
“filwell is now better than Granvillaise Bleue,” Levesque admitted. “As for Jason, who was bumped at the start of the Prix de Normandie, he had an encouraging race last week while wearing shoes. He doesn’t have the best program this winter becuase he’ll be facing tougher competition, but that doesn’t diminish his talent.”
Filwell is entered in the Prix Jacques Andrieu on January 26th, the same day as the prix d’Amérique. jason has several options for early 2025.
This weekend, Levesque’s stable will be represented at Vincennes by both Granvillaise Bleue on Saturday and Islamorada, a consistent performer in mounted trotting races, on Sunday.
Granvillaise Bleue’s Quest for a Third Prix Jules Lemonnier Crown: An interview with Trainer Pierre Levesque
NewsDirectory3: Granvillaise Bleue is gearing up for her third attempt at the Prix Jules Lemonnier. How confident are you about her chances?
Pierre levesque: I’m quite confident. She’s in much better form than she was this time last year. She’s trained well, and she always performs well on the 2,175-meter course at Vincennes. I think she has a good chance this Saturday.
ND3: Her last outing, the Prix Paul Buquet, was sadly hampered by a blinker issue. How has she recovered from that?
PL: It was certainly frustrating. One of her blinkers came down shortly after the start,and she had to pull for a thousand meters,maneuvering around the other horses. Everything went wrong that day. But she’s bounced back well from it.
ND3: She’ll be partnered with Benjamin Rochard again. How is their connection?
PL: They didn’t connect as smoothly as we’d hoped in their last race,even though she finished well. The top three horses took advantage of the rail, while Granvillaise Bleue had to go wide in the final turn. She’s given a lot as her debut,and while we can’t completely resolve her lung problems,she remains competitive and has a good chance this Saturday.
ND3: Looking ahead, what are Granvillaise Bleue’s plans after the Prix Jules Lemonnier?
PL: If all goes well, after the Prix de Cornulier, she’ll compete in the two Group I races offered before retiring.
ND3: Aside from granvillaise Bleue, how are your other horses performing?Filwell seems to be in top form.
PL: Yes, Filwell is truly outstanding. He won both the Prix de l’Ile d’Oléron and the Prix Auguste François this winter.
ND3: what about Jason? He’s shown promise.
PL: Jason is another promising trotter. He had a strong comeback in the Prix Oscar Collard, finishing sixth. He was bumped at the start of the Prix de Normandie, but he had an encouraging race last week while wearing shoes. He doesn’t have the easiest program this winter as he’ll be facing tougher competition, but that doesn’t diminish his talent.