Never a dull Sunday at the Vincennes winter meeting, and this weekend’s offering features a pair of Gr.1 contests which grant the respective winners automatic qualification to next month’s Prix d’Amérique. Restricted to 4 year-old colts and fillies, the Critérium Continental is a mobile start, run over 2100m, while the Prix Ténor de Baune gathers the crème of the 5 year-old generation and covers 2700m.

In the Critérium, Just A Gigolo is among the leading French hopes and will again be reined by Franck Nivard who is seeking a 3rd Continental success. Jushua Tree, who has won 8 of his 9 starts this year, including four Gr.2s, is another domestic hopeful up against a strong foreign contingent. Principal among these is Italian Derby winner, Dimitri Ferm, who finished second to Bazire’s horse in the Gr.2 Prix Octave Douesnel. Joviality will similarly be in focus, as much for her profile as her ability. She began her career in the USA before being imported to Scandinavia where she went on to win the Swedish Derby, the first filly in 22 years to achieve the feat.

Foreign raiders also come in strength for the Ténor de Baune. Nordic elements, Glamorous Rain and Great Skills, were impressive on their recent Vincennes debut, finishing first and second in the Prix Jean Boillereau, the former demonstrating striking superiority. Örjan Kihlström reins her this time, Björn Goop will be on the latter, while Alexandre Abrivard has been seconded for Redén’s talented second runner, Kentucky River. On the domestic front, Idao De Tillard must be considered a leading contender, as must Izoard Védaquais, who punched his ticket in the Bourbonnais, and stablemate Italiano Vero. Idéal Ligneries is in with a shout, and Franck Leblanc has not hidden his confidence in Ibiki De Houelle.