Prix des Élites: Monté horses chase first group 1

The Prix des Élites is raced in September and follows the Prix du Président de la République, the group 1 held in June, and gives the generation another chance to meet at the highest level later in the year before preparing for the winter season to come.

In partnership with Travstugan

Monté has a different position in French racing compared with Sweden. Around a quarter of French trotting races are run under saddle, with a separate group 1 program for the discipline. The Prix des Élites is part of this program and is one of the major races for the 4-year-old generation.

In Sweden, monté is a smaller part of the sport. Totalisator racing under saddle was introduced in 2004, and the discipline continues to develop.

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The Prix des Élites changed format in 2022. Until then, it was open to horses aged 3, 4 and 5, with the 3-year-olds receiving a 50 meter advantage over their older competitors. It is now reserved for 4-year-olds and run over 2,175m. The race record stands at an incredible 1’10’’0. The total prize money is €240,000, with €108,000 going to the winner.

The 2026 field brings together several of the leading horses under saddle, along with a few horses making their monté debut.

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Munhoa Védaquaise is among the leaders of the generation under saddle. She’s incredibly strong but can be unreliable at the start. She could give Haras de Bouttemont their seventh Prix des Élites victory.

Miss des Besaces is one of the most consistent performers, having finished in the top four throughout the year against both males and fillies. A fast finisher who will try to beat Munhoa Vedaquaise once again. A duel to look forward to.

Midway Lady has performed well against the top of the generation in regular races and will now make her monté debut with Éric Raffin. If she handles the discipline, she can fight for the placings.

Marilou also makes her monté debut but has less experience against the elite and is an outsider. Alexandre Abrivard, second in the monté standings, will ride.

For the Swedish connections, Mauricien, owned by Stall Goop, looks well under saddle but has struggled at the highest level.

Malice Caillerie makes her first start for Mathieu Mottier. A wildcard who could take a step forward under a trainer who excels in monté and is leading the monté standings.

My Story, Missy de Jiel and Milor de la Vallée complete the outsiders.