May 25 at La Capelle showcased harness racing's prestigious Quinte+ Grand National du Trot Paris-Turf (Gr. III, purse €90,000, 2750 meters, 16 starters with distance handicaps).
The impressive rallying winner, timed in 1.12.5kr, was 2.3/1 Aubrion du Gers (6g Memphis du Rib-J’auvive de Gers) with owner/trainer J-M Bazire teaming.
The winner recorded victory 14 in 37 starts good for career earnings of €470,460.
2/1 odds Baltic Charm (5m Password-Ilikova) was second for Eric Raffin and trainer Sebastien Guarato with third going to 6/1 Amiral du Bisson (6g Jeanbat du Vivier-Melodie du Bisson) handled by Anthony Barrier for Jean Morice. 13/1 Ulula Bella and 55/1 Vignia la Ravelle took spots four and five.
The secondary feature event at La Capelle was the Prix Fernand Floribert Dubois (purse €26,000, 2750 meters, 16 European starters) and 5.5/1 Yankee’s Photo (8m SJ’s Photo-Yankee Tracer) scored timed in 1.15kr for driver Franck Ouvrie and trainer Bjorn Gulbransen. Sissel Vatnoy of Norway is the owner. 18/1 Unisalane (8f Jet Fortuna-Lea Picoulerie) took second ahead of 8/1 Usher de Piencourt with Matthieu Abrivard up.
At Vichy the Prix Henri Berry (purse €50,000, 2850 meters, 15 European starters) the 1.16kr timed winner was 2.3/1 odds Visconti (7g Magnificent Rodney-Hematite) with trainer Benjamin Goetz up for owner Daniele Gozlan. 68/1 outsider Theo d’Urzy (9 Land du Coglaic-Jacinthe d’Urzy) landed second with 5/1 Coeur Baroque (4g Offshore Dream-Joie Baroqie) third for Damien Bonne.
Thomas H. Hicks