March 12, 2017 – Cornflower Jac (5g Opium-Lady Mary) scored victorious in the Prix Equidia Live (purse €56,000, 2925 meters, nine starters) in today’s Cagnes-sur-Mer harness racing opener. The 2.8/1 odds winner was timed in 1.15.1lkr. Yannick A. Briand drove and trains this career earner of €140,030. Creature Castelets (5f Pomerol de Laumac-Tragical Song) took second for trainer/driver Nicolas Ensch and third was Colonel Bond (5g Revel d’Anama-Miss Margaretha) for driver Pierre Vercruysse and trainer J.P. Ensch. This one tracked the winning leader but could not gain late.
The €34,000 Prix du Club de l’Eco Nice-Matin (2925 meters, 15 European starters) went to 1.14.3kr timed and 33.5/1 odds Pantarei Ans (8m Classic Photo-Demetra Ans) for driver Bjorn Goop. He also trains the winner now of €144,170 for Ecurie CHIKH. Second was Victory Quick (8g Gros Grain-Heureuse Duchesse) for trainer/driver Yannick A. Briand and third was Ultimo Amore (9g Coktail Jet-Paloma du Donjon) reined by J.Ch. Sorel for owner Didier Alexandre.
The €50,000 Prix de Rome Tor Di Valle (2925 meters, 13 European starters) went to 11/1 and 1.14.4kr timed Romanesque (7m Love You-Guantanamera) driven by Dominik Locqueneux for Stall Campus RPF. Favored Reckless, at 1.6/1 was a dq. Tell Me No Lies (8g Offshore Dream-B.Glorious) rallied between horses from being blocked, and took second for J-M Bazire and KLV Holding AB. Third was Vic du Pommereux (8m Love You-Kubrune) with Franck Nivard teaming. Sylvain Roger trains this one.
The €56,000 purse Prix Monaco-Matin (nine starters, 2925 meters) produced a close verdict for 1.4/1 odds Boss du Meleuc (6g Lucky Blue-Rafale du Meleuc) reined by trainer Y-A Briand, also the owner. The 1.15.3kr timed winner bested Bocage d’Ortige (6m Mirage du Goutier-Providence Dortige) and Bijou des Loups (6g Nahar de Beval-Jodie du Bois).
Silverado Lux (6g Amigo Hall-Mabelle As) at 3/2 odds sustained a stretch-long rally on the pegs to inch past Paco Rabanne (8g Love You-Fuchs Farm) for a 1.14.9kr score in the Prix d’Albenga (monte, purse €40,000, 15 starters) for jockey Franck Nivard. Holger K. Ehlert trains the winner, now with career earnings for €122,167, and Scuderia Fast Horse SRL is the owner. Third was Alain d’Occagnes (7g Nice Love-La Lolita) and Quentin Seguin.
Thomas H. Hicks