Friday evenings’ harness racing action at Paris-Vincennes included the Q+ Prix Neptuna (purse €54,000, 2850 meters, 17 entrants) and a host of upper-class events including two Groupe II contests.
The Gr. II Prix Gaston de Wazieres (purse €120,000, 2100 meters, 17 female four year-old participants) began the groupe action. 5.4/1 Combattante (4f Sam Bourbon-New York) scored timed in 1.12.4kr for Pierre Vercruysse. Louis Baudron trains and owns the fine mare. 24/1 Caly LouLou (4f Gazouillis-Neige de Genetine) took second for trainer/driver Matthieu Abrivard and 47/1 Clara du Pontseuil (4f Mich Phili-Osaka d’Occagnes) was third to the line.
The Gr. II Prix Gaston Brunet (purse €120,000, 2100 meters, 11 four year-old male starters) was won by 2.3/1 Charly du Noyer (4m Ready Cash-Ornella Jet) timed in 1.12.4kr and reined by Yoann Lebourgeois. Philippe Allaire trains the winner for Olivier Henri Thomas. 19/1 Caid de Jumily (4m Oiseau de Feux-Ravenna) was second for Matthieu Abrivard and 3.8/1 Clif du Pommereux (4m Love You-Noune du Pommereux) took third spot for trainer/driver Sylvain Roger.
Charly du Noyer
The Q+ started the festivities and the 1.12.9kr clocked winner was 1.7/1 Akayama (6f Prodigious-Nirosaka) with David Thomain aboard for trainer Alain Roussel. She defeated 3.2/1 Verzee Carisaie (7f Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree-Harmonie Carisaie) handed by Eric Raffin for owner/trainer J-Et. Thuet. Outsider Vizzavona (7f l’As de Viretaute-Gocity Coulonces) at 73/1 was third for owner/trainer/driver M-X Charlot.
The Prix Aletheia (purse €75,000, 2850 meters, 14 starters) was next and the 1.13.1kr winner was 2.3/1 Aubrion du Gers (6g Memphis du Rib-J;arrive du Gers) with trainer/owner Jean-Michel Bazire at the lines. 2.3/1 co-choice Athos des Volos (6m Lynx de Bellouet-Penelope des Volos) rallied for second with Matthieu Abrivard driving and 4.6/1 Aero King (6g Hooper-Quormina du Hour) held third for reinsman Anthony Barrier.
Near end of the program, and on the petit piste, was the Prix Palma (purse €35,000, 2850 meters, 12 three year-old filly starters) and 5/2 odds Datcha (3f The Best Madrik-Quoska des Arris) was an easy winner for Franck Nivard and trainer Emmanuele Ruault. Ecurie Comte P de Montesson is the owner. 12/1 Dynamite du Boulay (3f Defi d’Aunou-Mona Lisa Jet) rallied for second with Eric Raffin up for trainer Thierry Reffegeau. Third was 11.3/1 Dunyasha (3f Sam Bourbon-Troila du Corta) that Gabby Gelormini teamed for trainer Yves Boireau and owner Jean-Pierre Dubois; The race time for these lightly raced females was 1.18.4kr.
Thomas H. Hicks