Over the past few weeks the three-year-old trotter, Intouchable, has crushed his opposition in the first two preliminary rounds of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series at the Hippodrome 3R, and looks to do it again on Wednesday.
Bred and owned to be a winner by Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC, Intouchable did not live up to expectations as a two-year-old, going winless in seven starts.
A full brother to the top trotter, Maximuscle (Angus Hall–Iceberg Angus), who won the Quebec-Bred Series at ages two, three and four, Intouchable is starting to show his good breeding and he should. He has ten brothers and sisters that were all race horses including Puissaint ($341,000) and Victoire ($267,000).
Unbeaten in three starts this year, the fastest an eye-opening 1:58.3 debut record at Rideau Carleton, Intouchable is very different from Maximuscle says driver Mario Charron.
“He (Intouchable) is a very different horse than Maximuscle,” Charron explained. “Intouchable is much better leaving from the gate than Maximuscle is or was. Maximuscle was a tough race horse who can out muscle other horses while Intouchable is all about speed.
“I know we have not seen the best of Intouchable so far,” Charron said. “He is still somewhat green. I made him go in the pocket early last week so he knows he does not have to go to the lead every start.”
Intouchable starts from post four on Wednesday against just five rivals. He is putting his three-race unbeaten streak against possible contenders Seeyou Men (post 3) and Promesses Imperial (post five).
“There is no reason right now in this series for him to have to go at his full speed,” Charron said. “He can easily handle the group he is racing against, no problem. Once we are done with the preliminary rounds in this series there is some time before the $65,000 final on September 6 to maybe go to Mohawk. Then we may see how good he really is.
“I have no idea how fast he could go on a big track,” Mario said. “I think he has the speed to leave, get cover and then close with great ability. I think down the road he will break his brother Maximuscle’s record of 1:54.2. That is how good I think he is going to be.”
I don’t know what his trainer Maxime Velaye did to wake this colt up, but it has worked,” Charron said. “Right now he is a special horse everyone should pay attention to. He has the ability to do very well in the coming future.”
The fillies do battle in the seventh race with a full field of ten starters. Included in the field are both return winners from last week, SOS Harddrive and National Trace.
SOS Harddrive is part of any entry with SOS Revange. SOS Harddrive starts from post one for driver/trainer Eric Gnoccini and last week this daughter of Taurus Dream posted an impressive lifetime mark of 2:01.4 while being parked out first-over for most of the race.
National Trace is part of any entry with stablemate D Espoir (post 6), both trained by Dany Fontaine. National Trace starts from post five for driver Stephane Brosseau and last week she was able to wire the field in a seven and three-quarter length romp in 2:03.2.
Another contender is Meganou and driver Jocelyn Gendron from post eight. This filly by Kadabra was the Quebec-Bred champion last year and has the speed to overcome her outside post.
Post time Wednesday is 7:00 p.m. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
(QJC)