Arrival of the fifth: 16 – 13 – 9 – 11 – 4
Once but not twice, and especially not immediately… Disqualified during his last outing, Cleangame (n° 16) set the record straight on the occasion of the fourth stage of the Grand National du Trot (GNT), contested in Loire-Atlantique. After a much longer than usual warm-up, the 10-year-old gelding got into his race quickly and well. Without rushing, his trainer driver, Jean-Michel Bazire, only brought him closer before the last bend of the 3,000m long course. The rest was just a formality. The performance of Cleangame is enhanced by the value of its runner-up, namely Hanna des Molles (n° 13), winner of Group I, who started twenty-five meters ahead of his eldest. Despite a good defense, the protege of the Abrivard family had to admit defeat. Still under the spell of his boarder, JMB declared after the event: “All superlatives have been used for him. He is simply a champion! »
Set back from the first two, Freyja du Pont (n° 9) made a good straight line to complete the podium, like Django du Bocage (No. 11), which is fully rehabilitated. While she seemed capable of getting a better ranking, Eire d’Hélios (n° 7) did not spring as usual and had to concede fifth place at the expense of Fawley Buissonay (n° 4).
The next stage is scheduled for May 25 at the Croisé-Laroche racecourse (North).