“I didn’t think it would come to this. It is enormous ! », After her victory with Iresine in the last Group I of the year in France on the flat, at ParisLongchamp (16th century), emotion overwhelms Marie Vélon, the first French woman to win at this level, the third to win this type of events in France after Jessica Marcialis in 2020 and Hollie Doyle last June. In the saddle on the boarder of her boss, Jean-Pierre Gauvin, she won the Prix Royal-Oak. From Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne to the mythical ParisLongchamp racecourse, the 23-year-old woman has continued to push her limits! “I am too proud of her, launches, just as moved, the trainer of the winner. The horse is amazing but so is she! »
A rain of praise
Even if the victory was expected since Iresine was the favorite of the bettors, the scenario was not exactly as planned. Before the race, the one who will win the Women’s Golden Cravache for the third time in a row had clarified to the horse’s entourage that she would not throw it on the rope side, but the opposite happened. . “I can’t believe it,” she says. Iresine was exceptional. » And to add on his journey, which started barely five years ago: « It’s a lot of work… I can’t thank the horse’s entourage enough. I’m more than lucky, because women are not always given this kind of opportunity in such races. »
When the successes are there, the compliments rain, of course. Difficult then to find detractors concerning the one who, according to the requests, travels through France, often accompanied by her mother and has voluntarily tarnished her evaluations in college to become a jockey. “She is very kind and so pleasant,” says Jules Susini, her agent. I’m really happy for her and for Jean-Pierre Gauvin, who could have called on someone else, but they have such a relationship of trust…” An informed spectator, Thierry Jarnet, four-time winner of the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, praised the performance of the winner: “She rode a very good race and knows her horse perfectly. From now on, Asia awaits Marie Vélon and her champion.
