The Criterium Trotter
by Lisa Harkema
He was a nasty colt, and the only – to date – Elitlopp-winner to be led to the winners’ circle by two grooms holding a chain. The blue-blooded trotter Jorky was no treat to be around, and he was a handful for his opponents as well. The only horse to win all four group I-Criteriums in France, Jorky was a mean superstar.
Jorky’s career had started 3 years earlier in rather bizarre fashion. Making his debut on Apr 3, 1978,in the Prix Enif, he was driven by Serge Chavatte, who was not having his best day. After one lap, the driver sent Jorky forward to the lead. In the last turn he ups the tempo and Jorky loses his opponents. When passing the post for the second time, Serge Chavatte stopped his horse, as if the race was over. But … you guessed it – the race wasn’t over. The field caught up to Jorky. The driver, realizing his embarrassing mistake, got Jorky going again but the colt only managed to finish seventh. Still, he had shown class, and from then on he was top of the crop.
At 3 and 4, Jorky was clearly the best in the crop, though he lost a few races to his contemporaries. When it really mattered, though, in the Criteriums, he won in dominant style. His last start at 4, though, came in the Prix Marcel Laurent, which also was open to 5-year-olds. Here Jorky, for the first time, came up against the horse would be his arch-nemesis later: Ideal du Gazeau. The latter won the race in 1.16,9 (2:03.4) ahead of Icarios and Jorky. Further behind were other top trotters such as Ianthis and Istraeki.
Two months later, on Feb 18, 1980, Jorky put in a strong performance to second in the Prix de Selection, finishing second to Kepi Vert despite a 50 meter handicap. The Kerjacques-son trotted in 1.16,0 (2:02.1), his best time so far in his career.
Finally considered ready to take on the best aged trotters – Jorky had sat out the Prix d’Amerique three months prior – in the Prix de l’Atlantique at Enghien on Apr 14, 1980. Up against the great Hadol du Vivier, Jorky was still the best and won in 1.17,3 (2:04.2), shortly before Hadol du Vivier, while the rest were several lengths behind. In the following start, the Grand Prix du Sud-Ouest, he narrowly loses, again, to Ideal du Gazeau, but still firmly establishes himself as one of the very best aged trotters in France – despite only being five years old. In the latter race, Jorky lead almost the whole way. However, the blue-blooded trotter was equally comfortable sitting parked outside or attacking from cover late in the race.