There was an epic finish to the G2 Prix Jules Thibault (2700m) at Vincennes on Saturday where Idao de Tillard looked very hard to pass. However, the last challenge from Izoard Vedaquais proved a winning one arriving on the line.

Idao de Tillard went to the lead early and set a good pace passing the stands with a circuit to go but was quickly passed by Idéal Ligneries and Invictus Madiba. Eventual winner Izoard Védaquais was making eye-catching progress on the outside, four deep on the track approaching the bottom turn, around six lengths off the leader. Eric Raffin then settled the colt two out in sixth place travelling the back straight.

At the 1000m marker Idao de Tillard had over a length advantage from Izoard Védaquais who continued to make headway on the outside. It looked an open race in the final 600m with multiple chances turning for home.

On paper, it was likely to be a match race and into the home straight the two main contenders lead the field with Idao de Tillard on the inside. He was the first to be under pressure and responded to move away but the other well fancied colt, the Philippe Allaire trained four-year-old eventually found a winning challenge on the outside and Izoard Védaquais nabbed Thierry Duvaldestin's Idao de Tillard in the final stride and took a narrow victory.

By, Bird Parker who was a top-class performer with victories including the 2018 G1 Grand Prix de Paris (4150m) and the 2015 G1 Criterium des 4 Ans (2850m). He too contested this race and finished third in 2015. It will be interesting if Izoard Védaquais can match the achievements of his sire.

Izoard Védaquais made a winning debut in November 2020 at Graignes and since climbed the grades and proven excellent consistency and talent with fourteen wins and four placings from eighteen career outings, never finishing outside the top two. He is already a G1 winner when taking the G1 Sulky World Cup 4 Ans - Prix Ourasi (2700m) in January at Vincennes.

It is not often match races live up to expectations but on this occasion two highly talented colts provided an epic dual and close finish.