It’s much more than an anecdote. The fact that two siblings are in the running for the Grand Prix d’Amérique is a real event: firstly by its rarity but also because it tells the very essence of horse racing: the search for the best crossovers to give life to champions.
The main architect of this great adventure is Noël Lolic. Passionate about trotting races, he started breeding almost four decades ago and will experience an extraordinary moment on Sunday. When owners from all over the world dream of one day starting in the Grand Prix d’Amérique, Noël Lolic will have two for him! Looking through the archives of the biggest race in the world since 1979, we find traces of only three other similar cases:
1995 edition: the brothers Bonheur de Tillard and Uranium de Tillard, both from Joie de Tillard (Chaunion breeding)
1983 edition: La Bourrasque and his brother Mon Tourbillon, daughter and son of Tornade IV (Viel breeding)
1978 and 1979 editions: Hadol du Vivier and Fakir du Vivier by Ua Uka (Lécuyer breeding)
The latter two fought for the podium in the 1978 edition and took 2nd and 4th places respectively.
We can bet that Noël Lolic would sign for this result of his two prodigies Sunday around 4:15 p.m. Both are therefore from Noune du Pommereux, an exceptional broodmare who also gave Clif du Pommereux (more than € 500,000 in earnings) and the young Gimy du Pommereux, in sight at the Paris-Vincennes Hippodrome no later than Sunday 19 January ! In an issue of Trot Infos in early 2017, it was about the beginnings of Noël Lolic in trotting races:
His first adventure in the middle of trotting, the former Bayeus merchant lived it with Prince de Crépon. “This quality horse won the Prix de l’Île d’Oléron at the end of its career,” said Noël Lolic, ridden by his trainer, Michel Lenoir. Two months earlier, he had bought Tulipe du Braud at the Selected Yearling Sales in Deauville. “I like the atmosphere of these vacations, and then, in my opinion, it is not in a claim that one can find a very good horse,” he said. Under the leadership of Denis Warin, the filly wins three times, including once at Vincennes.
“But this Valmont girl was injured and had to leave the competition prematurely,” said the owner. Also, I tried to sell it but I couldn’t find a buyer. While I did not intend to be a breeder, I became one by accident (sic). Over time, I didn’t have to regret it. Her first daughter, Dolly, from Podosis, did a good job. From the start, she gave me the excellent Jim du Pommereux (N.D.L.R. a son of… Prince de Crépon), then Noune du Pommereux, who, after having had a good career, turned out to be a remarkable broodmare
The facts already proved him right during the winter of 2017, but what would happen afterwards even more! A year and a few weeks later, Enino du Pommereux was indeed going to win in a blistering time the Critérium des 4 Ans. In September of the same year 2018, Délia du Pommereux was going to conclude excellent second in the Critérium des 5 Ans de Davidson du Pont.
Propelled to the top of their respective hierarchies, the brother and sister succeeded this winter in winning their ticket for the Grand Prix d’Amérique in different conditions. The eldest validated her place in the second qualifying event, the Grand Prix du Bourbonnais which she won, thus highlighting her position in the elite, while Enino had to wait for the Grand Prix de Belgique to get his ticket, only preceded by Belina Josselyn, the winner of the 2019 Grand Prix d’Amérique in person. All hopes are therefore allowed for Noël Lolic and his team led by Sylvain Roger, the coach of the two champions. Big thrill guaranteed!
