July 8, 2017 – Saturday harness racing action at Vichy was highlighted by the Gr. II Grand Prix Conseil Municipal (purse €120,000, 2850 meters distance handicap). The 25 meter penalized Aubrion du Gers (7g Memphis du Rib-J’Arrive du Gers) rallied around the final bend for owner/trainer/driver Jean-Michel Bazire and held strong by two lengths plus in the rain, timed in 1.14.5kr. This classy campaigner recorded his 23rd career win and now has earnings of €1,050,372. Tallien (10g Extreme Aunou-Gyka de la Chaise) took second for driver/trainer/owner Herve Sionneau, ahead of Venus de Bailly (8f Chaillot-Oceane de Bailly) and reinsman Jean Boillereau. Finish is shown below.
Also July 8 was the Prix Okwo (purse €25,000, 2700 meters distance handicap, 13 starters) at Graignes. The well regarded, 50 meter handicapped, 1.4/1 favorite, Charly du Noyer (5m Ready Cash-Ornella Jet) scored timed in 1.14.5kr for driver Yoann Lebourgeois, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner M.A. Thomas. This classy campaigner had been misque dq’d in five of his last six outings, but not today. He now has 10 wins in 31 starts for earnings in excess of €656,000. 46/1 Amarena Danover (7f Oiseau de Feux-Etoile du Cuglais) was second for P.Ch. Jean and 5/2 Citizen Kane (5g Orlando Vici-Queen of Viking) overcame a 25 meter penalty to earn third for trainer/driver Thomas Levesque.
Turf action took place at Segre in the Prix Ozo (purse €25,000, 2700 meters distance handicap) and the 25 meter handicapped Chistor d’Iraty (5g Quick Wood-Irrintzina) scored for J.Ph. Monclin and owner/trainer Jacques Bodin. Equally handicapped Crepe de Satin (5f Le Retour-Ina d’Avril) was second ahead of Belicco Wild.
Thomas H. Hicks